Educational Media Reviews Online

In 1925, Shell Oil Company established the company town of Norco, Louisiana, the name based on the acronym for its New Orleans Refining Company. During an expansion of the refinery, black residents of Norco were relocated to the Diamond Plantation area which later became known as the Diamond Community, four streets of black residences, some within 20 feet of the chain-link fence separating Diamond Community from the Shell refinery site. For reasons not entirely clear, the black residents of Norco living in the Diamond Community area have a much higher incidence of cancer and respiratory diseases (35% asthma rate among black children) than the white residents who also live in the company town. The Concerned Citizens of Norco, residents of Diamond Community augmented by environmental activists from Louisiana and California begin taking their own “Bucket Brigade” air samples for comparison with Shell samples and empower a Diamond Community resident to represent their interests at a Royal Dutch Shell meeting in The Hague. Through this community-based activism and the threat of an impending national broadcast of this video on PBS, Shell extended its offer to buy four instead of the initial offer to buy out two streets in Diamond Community to allow all black residents to move from the area with dignity and without loss.

The quality of the audio and video in this production is excellent. This is a broadcast level production done with taste and immediacy. The photography, editing and sound are excellent. Black and white viewpoints on Norco and Shell are also presented with balance although the distinct disadvantage of poverty in the Diamond Community gives great leverage to the Shell Corporation.

This is a very interesting film. This clearly shows that in some circumstances even the most severely economically depressed of peoples can prevail against corporate America through organization and solidarity. It is not by any means a blueprint for community action or organization, simply a statement that perseverance can succeed. This will enhance African American and general Social Studies collections in school, college and university libraries. It is appropriate for discussions on political activism, community organization and formation of environmental alliances. Lastly, it says and shows a lot about the power of the media to influence corporate thought and decision-making.

Awards

• Certificate of Merit, San Francisco International Film Festival, 2002
• Platinum Award in Documentary, Worldfest, Houston, 2002
• Best Environmental Film, Vermont International Film Festival, 2002
• John Michaels Memorial Award, Big Muddy Film Festival, 2002
• Official Selection, Memphis International Film Festival, 2002