On Demand Weekly

MANN V. FORD (HBO)

By Jean Tait

A candy apple red 1967 Ford Mustang convertible, shiny and new: is there anything cooler than that? It is a perfect example of a corporation at its peak of popularity. And as the only American car company around today that didn’t need a bailout from the American taxpayer, Ford remains at the top of the heap. Now let’s take a closer look at that heap it’s on top of….

The Ramapough Indians live in northern New Jersey, as they have for hundreds of years. If you fly over or drive through this part of New Jersey, it’s lovely: beautiful woods, flowing streams. On closer examination though, the rocks and dirt show bits of unusual color, and the smell is foul.

Its paint and chemical sludge, some of it still bright and shiny and as candy apple red as it was when it was dumped there decades ago. Ford contracted out its waste disposal, but memos indicate they knew their waste was being dumped in the Ramapough Indians’ land. They also knew it was full of toxins and carcinogens.