Wrote another paper about Native Americans today. Learned about The White Eagle neighborhood in Ponca City, OK. The White Eagle was an impoverished Native American community, and notably, it was extremely close to a carbon black plant, with some houses less than 100 yds away. Carbon black is a fine black powder that strengthens rubber, it is most commonly used in tires. Every few hours, the plant will release carbon black particles into the air. Carbon black is extremely sticky, difficult to wipe off, and notably causes respiratory issues, predominantly lung cancer. A few respondents noted it was so difficult to clean, that many of them threw out their carpet and elected to live on the subflooring.

" If I lived anywhere else, my house would probably be spotless. Here, everything is black. Everything my kids touch … they touch the walls, they touch everything and it gets black.’’ Children’s hands and feet are constantly stained with the black soot and some parents have resorted to using mechanics’ soap to clean the black soot. Several local businesses have prohibited workers from the Continental Carbon Company from entering their establishments. For example, convenience stores in the area post signs stating, ‘‘No Carbon Black Allowed.’

Whenever the wind blows their way, residents would bring in their kids. Some residents didn't allow their kids outside at all, as it is too dangerous. Despite this, they note that under a certain age, nearly 100% of kids have respiratory issues. Doctors refused to blame the carbon black, and instead attributed it to parents smoking, even among parents known in the community not to smoke. Friends and family members refused to come to the neighborhood because they feared the black soot. Property values tanked, and many found themselves unable to move due to their economic status. It also heightened racial tensions in the community, as white members of the community have on occasion had their cars cleaned by Continental Carbon Company's reps, as well as compensated for decreased property values.

The company denied that the carbon black dust exists, is related to the plant, and is related to respiratory issues at all. The plant was one of the 383 plants in the EPA's watchlist, there for failing to address violations in a timely manner. The company stated

"As soon as carbon black leaves the stack ... it starts to stick together," Elder said. "It starts to stick to mold particles. It sticks to dust particles. It sticks to dog hair. ... It cannot be considered, by this test, as carbon black."

After 13 years and 700+ unanswered complaints, the company settled a lawsuit for 13 million dollars and bought out the houses in the community. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality fined them only $25,000 during this period.