Overview
This lecture examines the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, emphasizing how environmental racism and structural inequality exacerbated the storm’s impact on marginalized communities in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Katrina: Impact and Disparities
- Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing $125 billion in damages and massive displacement.
- African Americans made up 60.5% of New Orleans’ population and were disproportionately affected due to poverty and substandard housing.
- Most vulnerable communities lived in poorly protected, low-lying neighborhoods susceptible to flooding.
- Mandatory evacuation was not possible for many due to lack of resources and transportation.
Infrastructure Failures
- Levee failures were mainly due to improper design, overtopping, use of sand instead of clay, and negligent maintenance.
- Poorly maintained and designed infrastructure contributed significantly to the flooding and damage in minority neighborhoods.
Environmental Racism and Justice
- Environmental racism refers to policies and practices that disproportionately expose communities of color to environmental hazards.
- Toxic contamination after Katrina mostly affected poor and colored neighborhoods, increasing health risks such as higher cancer rates (e.g., Cancer Alley).
- Environmental justice is the movement addressing unequal environmental burdens and advocating for basic rights like clean air and water.
Government Response and Political Implications
- Federal, state, and local responses were slow and inadequate, further harming marginalized groups.
- President George W. Bush faced criticism for his lack of timely action and perceived neglect of black communities.
Structural & Social Inequality
- Racial and economic disparities influenced who was able to evacuate and who suffered most.
- The disaster revealed how longstanding racism, poverty, and neoliberal policies intensified vulnerability for communities of color.
- The televised aftermath highlighted the unequal suffering of low-income black residents versus wealthier white communities.
Lessons and Ongoing Issues
- Katrina exposed that racism is embedded structurally in political and economic systems, not just individual attitudes.
- Community activism and environmental justice movements arose in response, led largely by affected African Americans.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Environmental Racism — The disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on communities of color.
- Environmental Justice — The movement fighting for equal environmental protections and access to healthy resources for all.
- Levee — A man-made barrier built to prevent flooding from rivers or storm surges.
- Neoliberalism — An economic approach favoring free-market policies and reduced government intervention, often worsening inequality.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read Rob Nixon’s "Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor" (pp. 55-60).
- Review articles by Barbara Lee, Kenneth T. Walsh, Nils Gilman, and Julie Sze for deeper insights on environmental justice post-Katrina.