Allée du Cancer

Cancer Alley

In the 1975 film, “Young Frankenstein,” Gene Wilder explained to Marty Feldman (Igor) that his name was pronounced Fronkinsteen, not Frankenstein, to which Marty Fieldman replied, “You’re putting me on! I’m Eyegore.” 

Most people respond, "You’re putting me on," when they learn how many petrochemical plants line the 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. How many are there? Answer: over 200. This area accounts for about 25% of the petrochemical production of the United States. Environmentalists consider the region a sacrifice zone, where rates of cancer caused by air pollution exceed the federal government's standards. Some refer to this region as "Death Alley".

Following an oil and gas boom around the time of World War II, refineries began to crop up along the Mississippi River. Previously located within the cities of Baton Rogue and New Orleans, many of these refineries sought to migrate to less densely populated places during the 1950s. Most relocated near majority-Black communities along the river. By the 1970s, an EPA report found 66 pollutants in New Orleans drinking water, and 31 lethal chemicals in the air. In 1976, Coast Guard divers retrieving sediment samples from a bayou suffered second-degree burns on their hands. Despite the known problems with pollution, the petrochemical industry in the area continued unabated, and even continued expanding. By 1988, locals began referring to an area in Chalmette (a city in St. Bernard Parish near New Orleans) as "Cancer Alley." The "alley" later grew to encompass the current 85-mile stretch. Louisiana has the fifth-highest cancer death rate in the nation. Per 100,000 people in the state, nearly 162 Whites died of cancer in 2018 vs. 193 Blacks.

I’ve long wanted to do a photo-documentary project on Cancer Alley, believing that this area needed more visual attention. On March 16, 2023, I loaded up my large, heavyweight (seven pound), 100-megapixel camera. (My regular camera, Nola, did not come along. She weighs in at about one pound.) I spent four or five hours on the west side of the Mississippi River making photographs. My adventure turned out to be sort of strange. After about an hour's driving and frequently stopping for photographs or to just look, I had the distinct impression I was being watched and followed. This had the two-footed response of fear and determination. 

Primarily I am a people photographer. While all these images are of petrochemical facilities, what I really want to do is photograph the residents of the area. However, it seems to me that to do so I’m going to require some help, an assistant, perhaps someone from the area to help avoid any “difficulties” and introduce me to the people who live there.

Alex

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© 2024 Alexander Salaun Labry, MFA
1801 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701 
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