Final answer:
Environmental racism is a form of discrimination where minority communities face greater environmental hazards. To address this, governments should strictly enforce civil rights laws, and ensure community empowerment, and sociologists should contribute with impactful research.
Step-by-step explanation:
An instance of discrimination that affects certain social groups is environmental racism, where minority communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards such as pollution and toxic waste. Sociologists play a critical role in highlighting this issue through research and advocacy, aiding in public awareness and policy change. To combat environmental racism, laws must be reinforced to ensure that all community planning, industrial regulation, and environmental policies treat every community fairly, regardless of race or socio-economic status. Moreover, communities must be empowered through education and legal support to advocate for their rights and bring attention to injustices.
To eliminate this form of discrimination, governments should enforce and expand civil rights legislation, guarantee full political empowerment and ensure that no community bears an unfair share of environmental burdens. Support from sociologists, who can use their research to influence policy and public opinion, is vital. Educating the public about the subtle forms of discrimination and nurturing cultural changes that promote equity can also help to eliminate discrimination in various social contexts over time.