The past at Thurgood Marshall High School, situated in the heart of San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point district, is not merely a distant echo. It resides in the soil, breathes in the air, and weaves through the lived experiences of the students I serve daily as their teacher-librarian. While this history might not be explicitly addressed in our school, its presence calls to us, urging recognition and action.
Hunters Point is more than a neighborhood; it is a microcosm of environmental injustice, systemic neglect, and the lasting consequences of unchecked technological progress. Once a hub of naval innovation during World War II, the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard became a site for nuclear decontamination experiments, leaving behind a toxic legacy that persists today. Officially designated as a Superfund site in 1989, the shipyard remains riddled with hazardous substances like radioactive materials, heavy metals, and petroleum contaminants. Despite decades of cleanup efforts overseen by the U.S. Navy, the EPA, and state regulators, the work is far from complete, and the scars of contamination continue to impact the health and well-being of the surrounding community (epa.gov).
The health risks are undeniable. Families in Bayview–Hunters Point face higher rates of cancer, respiratory illnesses, and other conditions linked to environmental contamination. A biomonitoring study conducted by Greenaction identified elevated levels of toxic heavy metals like arsenic and vanadium in the bodies of community members, underscoring the need for urgent action (sfpublicpress.org). Yet, even as the cleanup efforts push forward—with completion of some areas projected for 2027—the process has been marred by controversies, including accusations of falsified data and insufficient accountability by contractors such as Tetra Tech (sfchronicle.com).
This history is not a static relic of the past—it is the lived reality of the students and families who walk through the doors of our school. Their lives bear the weight of this legacy. But, as of now, this critical chapter of their community’s history is not being explored within the walls of Thurgood Marshall High School. There is no structured conversation, no curriculum that delves into what it means to live in the shadow of such profound environmental and systemic challenges. This silence is a missed opportunity for learning and empowerment.
I want to change that.
As educators, we have the unique opportunity—and responsibility—to bring this history into focus for our students. I envision a school where the story of Hunters Point is acknowledged and becomes a foundation for critical exploration and inquiry. By engaging with this history through archival research, oral histories, and citizen science projects, students could uncover the hidden truths of their community and see themselves as active participants in shaping its future. Conversations about environmental justice, systemic racism, and the failures of technological oversight could equip them with the tools to question and challenge the systems that have impacted their lives.
This effort is not just academic. It’s personal. As an artist, my work has long explored the duality of nuclear technology: its power to sustain life and its potential to destroy it. Materials like uranium glass, with their haunting glow under UV light, serve as metaphors for the paradox of progress—a paradox that Hunters Point exemplifies. My art seeks to make the invisible visible, giving form to the unseen dangers that linger in the soil and air. Similarly, I want to help students and teachers uncover the hidden dimensions of their community’s history to make the systemic forces that have shaped their reality visible.
Recent findings at the shipyard—a shard of radioactive glass and a radium deck marker discovered in areas previously certified as clean—highlight the urgency of this work. These discoveries expose failures in past remediation efforts and underscore the ongoing risks faced by the community. They are not just artifacts of negligence; they are opportunities to ask hard questions and demand better answers. These findings could serve as a spark for meaningful exploration and dialogue for our school.
But for this to happen, we must act together. I hope my colleagues will join me in starting this conversation. Together, we can create a space where the legacy of Hunters Point is not just studied but used as a lens to examine broader themes of resilience, justice, and accountability. Integrating these stories into our classrooms allows us to turn silence into action and passivity into empowerment.
Thurgood Marshall High School is filled with potential. Our students are bright, curious, and deeply connected to their community. They deserve the chance to explore the history that has shaped their lives, to understand the systems that have failed them, and to imagine a future they can help create. We, as educators, have the privilege of guiding them on this journey. Their voices can transform the narrative of Hunters Point from one of neglect and harm to one of resilience and hope.
My hope is that together, we can bring the story of Hunters Point into our school, not as a burden but as an opportunity for growth and empowerment. I want us to honor the resilience of this community while equipping the next generation with the tools to advocate for justice and create a healthier, more equitable world. Let’s begin this conversation and ensure that the legacy of Hunters Point becomes a story of transformation—a story shaped by the voices and actions of the students who call this community home. Will you join me?
References
Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, September). EPA and Navy announce milestone cleanup at Hunters Point Superfund site, San Francisco. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-navy-announce-milestone-cleanup-hunters-point-superfund-site-san-francisco
Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice. (n.d.). Toxic metals found in shipyard neighbors but source still unknown. San Francisco Public Press. Retrieved from https://www.sfpublicpress.org/toxic-metals-found-in-shipyard-neighbors-but-source-still-unknown
IT’S HISTORY. (2024, November). The government’s toxic secret at Hunters Point. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=KVUtvwLkwII&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Farvc.blog%2F&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ
San Francisco Chronicle. (2018, May). Two sentenced for falsifying reports on soil cleanup at Hunters Point Shipyard. Retrieved from https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Two-sentenced-for-falsifying-reports-on-soil-12886564.php
Ángel Rafael Vázquez-Concepción 