Essay About Hurricane Katrina And Severity Of The Assumed Level Of Discrimination

Hurricane Katrina: Natural Disaster or Racial Disaster?
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Many may call Hurricane Katrina one of the worse natural disasters in the history of the United
States. How many have called it not only a natural disaster but, a racial disaster? Racial
discrimination was found during Hurricane Katrina through the relief efforts made, the lack of
humanity shown, and ineffective government actions. I found this topic very interesting because
of the severity of the assumed level of discrimination that followed the storm. This assumed
discrimination not only came from the victims of the storm but,
the unaffected public as well. I personally watched the airing of the airing of the news and the
forecast regarding the storm. I also watched the after math and spoke with victims of the storm,
and thought that maybe there was a possibility that delayed relief was due to the race of the
victims. I had reservations about that information being true because of the amount of percent of
Caucasians that reside in New Orleans also.
Granted, the African American percentage outweighs the Caucasian, they still reside amongst
the majority. So, was Hurricane Katrina a recipe for racial discrimination? I have researched and
found various writings and opinions that support my opinion that it was definitely an opportunity
for discrimination against African Americans. Racial discrimination that very well could have
been underlying in New Orleans long before Hurricane Katrina. I will discuss my opinion on
the subject of racism before and after the storm. This will be supported with sources to justify
my views on the racial discrimination that New Orleans endured.
I would like to discuss the state of Louisiana. Louisiana is the second poorest state in
the United States. Mississippi is the number 1. ( Dyson5 ) This information was already a
problem before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. New Orleanss black population was
67.9% before Hurricane Katrina and the poverty level was extremely high for the residents.
( Dyson5 ) I can honestly say that I have never looked at these factors before the storm.
New Orleans was always the city know for the Mardi Gras Festival. A prime example of the
perspective of an outsider. Not ever have I thought about the people or the substandard
educational system.
The first point that discrimination was found in during Hurricane Katrina is through the
relief efforts. The slow response of aid from FEMA was unimaginable. There were several
warnings from The National Weather Center on the possible devastation. Yet, after the warnings
our national leadership still acted as if no one knew what was to come of New Orleans. This lag
in relief for the poor black Americans in New Orleans could easily be taken as no regard by the
government. The head guy of FEMA told emergency service personnel “not to respond to
hurricane impacted areas unless dispatched by state, local authorities.” Why not have every able
and capable person assist in helping? The choosing of who helps and when is a clear message
that the devastation to the black population was not of great importance to those in charge at the
time.
President Bush was blamed mainly for the overall set back of the relief efforts. According
to author Michael Eric Dyson, he proposes that maybe President Bush has little regard for the
blacks in New Orleans because of political reasons. He claims that poor blacks are neither
economically stable or vote rich, they dont matter very much politically.
The second point that discrimination was found during Hurricane Katrina is the lack humanity
shown. When a person is murdered or killed accidentally or for whatever reason declared
deceased, we are known for removing them from the public eye. When I say we, I am referring
to the human race. Humans dont allow the dead to stay among us and procrastinate when it
comes to showing proper respect to the dead. The days following the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina left victims on roof tops and car tops to survive rising waters. Survivors of the storm
was left to watch their loved ones die before them. Loved ones dying due to lack of needed
medication. They watched family members drowning in the flood waters.( Harden,Walker)
The inhumanity that is at the blame of the government and government agencies is the fact
that the surviving victims had to witness dead bodies flooding amongst them. Dead bodies and
disease infested waters surrounded thousands, as they wait for aid to come. Aid that was very