Study: New Orleans could lose 80 percent of black population

nola.com / AP ^ | January 26, 2006 | Michelle R. Smith [AP]

[caryatid]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The city of New Orleans could lose up to 80 percent of its black population if people displaced by Hurricane Katrina are not able to return to their damaged neighborhoods, according to an analysis released Thursday by a Brown University sociologist.

Blacks and the poor were disproportionately affected by Katrina, according to the study led by Brown Professor John R. Logan. The analysis concludes that the difficulty in moving back to the city could mean a massive loss of population, overwhelmingly among blacks.

New Orleans was more than 65 percent black before Katrina hit in August, but it appears most of the estimated 135,000 residents who have been able to return are white. Mayor Ray Nagin recently apologized for saying New Orleans would remain a "chocolate city" as he tried to allay fears that blacks would not return.

The study found that if New Orleans' returning population was limited to the neighborhoods undamaged by Katrina, about half the white population would not return and 80 percent of its black population would not. [...]

[Gordongekko909]

First of all, w00t!

Second of all, the demographic group hit hardest by the hurricane wasn't a racial group: it was an age group. The elderly, of all races, fared worse than anyone else. The disparity is further aggravated if you don't count only people who perished in New Orleans, but also the elderly people who died of simple stress in the weeks after the storm.

[Man50D]

New Orleans could lose 80 percent of black population

Talk about a racist hypocritical statement. There would be an uproar with claims of racism if the word black was substituted with white. This "analysis" should be concerned about the overall population loss instead of specific groups within New Orleans. The pointy head socialist elitists are once again doing the very thing they rail against.

[freedumb2003]

I asked them to.

The mods are pretty helpful folk.

[LongElegantLegs]

caramel takeover

City dulce de leche?

[Gordongekko909]

Totally. Before evacuating to Texas, I hadn't had to order a drink by name in years.

[Pukin Dog]

"Ray Nagin, meet Mayor Vanilla."

[maggief]

[goresalooza]

I don't know...they made killer coffee drinks over at that Voodoo coffee shop across from the Royal Sonesta. It was great being awake while you partied.

[Gordongekko909]

Mmm, yummy.

[airborne]

I thought (I heard) that more whites than blacks died.

[Lizavetta]

perhaps you should stick around for a while before suggesting that I am trying to stir up more racial tensions.

I was suggesting the writer of this stupid article was trying to stir up racial tensions, not whoever posted the article to Free Republic.

And I've been around here for many years, thank you.

[Radix]

"You are right ... no one understands food ... or does food better ... than folks from Louisiana and New Orleans."

I have had the privilege of dining in New Orleans, and it was terrific every time.

The Cajun culture was rooted in those formerly known as Accadians, and after many returned to Nova Scotia, there was some benefit concerning cuisine, and more.

Nova Scotia is a great place to vacation. Not exactly Cajun, but sometimes, the connection is recognizable, if one is fortunate enough to find the right place.

[LongElegantLegs]

Ciudad de la sopaipillas. Mmmm...

[gitmo]

I don't understand the import of this story. The folks survived the natural disaster and their transition to other communities were made possible by the largess of the government and the generosity of the citizens of the US. If New Orleans demographics shifts, that just means people are living somewhere else. Why is this an issue?

[Gordongekko909]

New Orleans isn't exactly "Cajun." Most of the Cajuns in Louisiana are in an area called Acadiana. If you want to go, I recommend Lafayette.

Best Cajun food you'll find anywhere. And those accents... gawd. If I don't stick around the New Orleans area after I graduate from law school, I'm definitely moving there.

[muir_redwoods]

What are the chances that, once a significant number of folks from NO get a taste of life above sea level, they might actually like it and decide to settle elsewhere?

[Gordongekko909]

Fairly high. I spent a few weeks in Lafayette and loved it.

[VOYAGER]

Study: New Orleans could lose 80 percent of black population.

Is this 80% of the total black citizen population, if so could there be a trade-off between taxable income and welfare outlay if this is the case?

[Old Professer]

From their website:

"Tuition and Fees

Undergraduate tuition for the academic year 2004-2005 is $30,672, and fees are $9,136. The total cost is $39,808.

Financial Aid

Brown provides 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need for all students who matriculate. Forty-three percent of the undergraduate student body receives need-based financial aid. The average financial-aid package for the class of 2007 was $26,630."

[upchuck]

The city of New Orleans could lose up to 80 percent of its black population if people displaced by Hurricane Katrina are not able to return to their damaged neighborhoods, according to an analysis released Thursday by a Brown University sociologist.

And why would this be a bad thing?

IMHO, with the corruption and "snake pit" reputation NOLA has, a demographic shift might be a good thing.

Clean house, toss out the drift wood. Get in some new blood.