In researching the decades-old Tuscaloosa Trend and the immense wealth it has generated for many, I find it deeply troubling that this resource-rich formation runs directly beneath one of the poorest communities in North Baton Rouge—near Southern University, Louisiana—yet neither the university ( that I am aware of)  nor local residents appear to have received any compensation for the minerals extracted from their land.

This area has suffered immense environmental degradation from nearby chemical plants and persistent pollution, with residents facing elevated cancer rates and widespread decay. Historical and contemporary maps confirm the presence of valuable oil and mineral deposits beneath this community. Yet despite this, it seems that wealth has been extracted—possibly through horizontal drilling—without benefit to the people living above it.

With little public scrutiny or accountability, this situation raises serious concerns about environmental justice, economic exploitation, and systemic neglect. How has such an obvious injustice persisted for so long without redress?