Prioritizing Profit Over People: Racial Capitalism and Latino Dairy Workers Amid the Bird Flu Outbreak

• In Event: 41061 - Section on Latina/o Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Latinx Migration, Labor, and Social Mobility

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the bird flu outbreak on undocumented, Latino immigrant dairy workers in California's Central Valley. We use the concept of racial capitalism to examine how neocolonial structures in dairy farm that stem from the plantation economy discussed by Cedric Robinson exploits a racialized immigrant labor force a viral outbreak of the bird flu. These workers face exploitation in California’s dairy farms, marked by low wages, poor conditions, and limited healthcare access that are further complicated by the bird flu outbreak. Through semi-structured interviews, this study explores workers’ experiences during the bird flu outbreak, revealing how employers prioritize livestock welfare over worker safety. The findings underscore how racial capitalism perpetuates inequality and exposes workers to health risks.

Author

• Andres Arias, University of California-Merced