Racism and Hurricane Katrina - 1769 Words

As Hurricane Katrina ravaged the South and drowned large parts of New Orleans this past September, the ugly reality of our nations continuing problem with class, poverty, and race became apparent. Many Americans began to question the possibility of racism being a deciding factor in the fate of many New Orleans citizens who were black and who lived in the poorest, most low-lying portion of the city, the Ninth Ward. Many, including First Lady Laura Bush, denounce critics who say race played a role in the federal governments slow response to the victims of Katrina. While it is possible that the governments slow response to the disaster was not directly due to racism, there are many unanswered questions suggesting the protection of the city†¦show more content†¦By that I mean white people. They were just picking [white people] out of the crowd. I dont know why we were treated the way we were, but it was like they didnt care. While racism in the handling of the disaster was evide nt to many Southern blacks, some believe that poverty was a contributing factor. Not only were 90% of the citizens of New Orleans black, they were also extremely poor. It is not surprising that much of the world has been shocked by the destruction in New Orleans and the ongoing failures exposed at almost every level of government. While it is almost impossible not to be appalled by this series of events, veterans of the environmental-justice movement are not surprised by what happened. In fact, they say that this disaster has confirmed what they have thought all along. They believed that blacks in New Orleans were much more vulnerable and less protected by environmental problems than white folks in areas close to the city. They maintain that the people in power Ââ€" who included Mayor Ray Nagin, an African-American himself Ââ€" viewed the citys poor, black residents as expendable. Robert Bullard, director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University, ha s been leading a research project of official responses to environmental disasters. He believes that blacks and other people of color are all too often overlooked in such crises, he told LizaShow MoreRelatedEssay about Racism Revealed: Hurricane Katrina785 Words   |  4 PagesHurricane Katrina struck the city of New Orleans, Louisiana on August 29th, 2005. The events that followed would leave the whole nation in shock until this day. One of the major topics of discussion after this disaster was whether or not the governments slow reaction time had anything to do with the fact that New Orleans is sixty-seven percent African American. As helicopters circled a wasteland that was once a major tourist attraction, the racism of the Deep South, thought to be extinct, provedRead MoreShift Of Emphasis From Racism1180 Words   |  5 PagesShift of Emphasis From Classism to Racism Disasters often present to a society the opportunity for self-examination by stripping away the facade and revealing the underlying problems and inequities that were overlooked and oppressed by the established social order. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, not only did it bring about complete destruction to the physical landscape, but it also brought to light the social inequalities and vulnerabilities that were present and deeply rooted in theRead MoreRacism And The Social Structures Of Race Essay1700 Words   |  7 Pagesaround the globe everyday; regardless of the fact that race has been proven as a flawed biological concept, with racial categories a result of ‘pseudo science’. 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This is not to say, however, that FEMA or the national or state and local governments are not at all to blame for this tragedyRead MoreHurricane Katrin The Second Largest Hurricane862 Words   |  4 PagesHurricane Katrina known as the fifth largest hurricane ever to hit the United States formed on August 23, 2005 and dissipated August 31, 2005. Katrina was classified as a category five hurricane with wind speeds up to 175 mph. Katrina mad e headlines because of its destruction region which was Louisiana. Many families especially African-Americans were considered to be vulnerable and left to die from the disaster. In the following I will address whether Katrina was a natural disaster ready to happenRead MoreRace, Hurricane Katrina, and the Aftermath Essay1125 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"George Bush doesn’t care about black people.† these are the words that Kanye West spoke during a Hurricane Katrina fundraising concert. 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Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005 and crossed southern Florida as a moderate Category  1 hurricane, causing some deaths and flooding there beforeRead MoreThe Problem Of Social Class1189 Words   |  5 PagesRunning Head: Misfortune of the Unfortunate Hurricane Katrina and the Misfortune of the Unfortunate Ibrahim Farag University of Louisville Inequality has been a topic of discussion in the United States—as well as the vast majority of the world—for a significant period of time now. While there is no denying that inequality exists, I believe that it has become assumed to be the underlying problem in a lot of cases where it doesn’t necessarily apply. There are a number of problems inRead MoreA Cycle of Struggles Endured by the African American Race1301 Words   |  5 Pagessufferings. Although America has succeeded in abolishing slavery, there are still aspects of racism and economic segregation that occur within residential areas. This being said, many individuals of the African American race become primary targets and victims to devastating economic and social disadvantages. The articles, Survival and Death in New Orleans: An Empirical Look at the Human Impact of Katrina written by Patrick Sharkey and African American Men and the Prison Industrial Complex by EarlRead MoreHealth Hazards : A Structura l Model Of Health Behavior1445 Words   |  6 Pageset al. the causes of health disparities are varied but include socioeconomic factors, language barriers, perceived personal risk, distrust, lack of preparation, and incorrect information. One of the most extreme examples of this was following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Before the storm, parts of the city were already economically disadvantaged; these neighborhoods being primarily inhabited by minorities. After the storm these neighborhoods, particularly the ninth ward were destroyed, leaving