Legacies: Racism and Resistance in New Orleans Before and After Katrina

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A Reader for Katrina solidarity classes and reading groups

Section	Printable Downloads or Link
Legacies Table of Contents	Link Printable Downloads: HTML or PDF (13 pages, 92kb)
SOME HISTORY OF RACISM AND RESISTANCE IN NEW ORLEANS BEFORE KATRINA	Link Printable Downloads: HTML or PDF (35 pages, 1mb)
"THEY LEFT US HERE TO DIE"	Link Printable Downloads: HTML or PDF (69 pages, 1mb)
WHERE THERE IS OPPRESSION, THERE IS RESISTANCE	Link Printable Downloads: HTML or PDF (152 pages, 13mb)
SOME EXAMPLES OF GRASSROOTS RACIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZING IN NEW ORLEANS AFTER KATRINA	Link
ANTI-RACIST SOLIDARITY: SOME PERSPECTIVES AND TOOLS (primarily for white activists)	Link Printable Downloads: HTML or PDF (76 pages, 3.4mb)
SOME RESOURCES AND LINKS	Link

Section I: SOME HISTORY OF RACISM AND RESISTANCE IN NEW ORLEANS BEFORE KATRINA

A. Prelude

The Tradition, poem by Assata Shakur
Assata Shakur
12/31/1987

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B. A Bit of History

History Can Guide Us: Toward a Third Reconstruction
Eric Mann
06/10/2005
Racism and Resistance in New Orleans Before Katrina: An Only-Touching-the-Surface Timeline
Sharon Martinas, Brad Ott
Katrina Reader Team
07/25/2007
A Concrete Symbol
Lawrence Powell
Institute for Southern Studies
10/26/2008

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C. Some Examples of Resistance since the 1970's

Malik Rahim on Black Panthers and Black Resistance in New Orleans (Interview)

Malik Rahim, Brice White

03/13/2000
A Whole Lotta Peoples Is Strong: Graphics from the Louisiana New South Coalition

Louisiana New South Coalition

1992
(Ed: The pictures in this calendar give a visual snapshot of the powerful tradition of grassroots racial justice organizing in New Orleans that has been recreated in the aftermath of Katrina.)

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Section II: "THEY LEFT US HERE TO DIE"

“They left us here to die, and when we didn’t die, they tried to drive us out of our homes, and when we didn’t leave, they said they would knock our houses down,” said Mama Dee. Mama Dee is a community activist and elder who has lived her entire life in New Orleans’ Seventh Ward.

(From ‘Fighting for the right to rebuild New Orleans,’ by Karen Shain. SAN FRANCISCO BAY VIEW. Oct. 12, 2005.)

Wade in the Water
Walidah Imarisha
Human Rights Coalition
01/01/2005
'This is criminal': Malik Rahim reports from New Orleans
Malik Rahim
Common Ground Collective
09/01/2005
Dear Incite! Friends & Supporters, plus letter from Shana Griffin
Nada Elia, Shana Griffin
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
09/11/2005
Displaced New Orleans Community Demands Action, Accountability and Initiates A People’s Hurricane Fund
Muhammad Curtis and Becky Belcore
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
09/04/2005
Hurricane Katrina: The Black Nation's 9/11!
Saladin Muhammad
09/16/2005
Blackwater Down: Fresh From Iraq, Private Security Forces Roam the Streets of an American City With Impunity
Jeremy Scahill
09/23/2005
Floodlines: Catherine Jones' Blog
Catherine Jones
10/25/2005
Looking for Common Ground
David Bacon
New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice
11/27/2005
A 20-Point Plan to Destroy Black New Orleans
Robert D. Bullard
SF Bayview
02/01/2006
Bush, lies and videotape
C.C. Campbell-Rock
People's Institute for Survival and Beyond
03/08/2006
Guantanamo on the Mississippi
Jordan Flaherty
Safe Streets/Strong Communities
03/11/2006
In the Wake of the Storm: Environment, Disaster, and Race After Katrina
Manuel Pastor, Robert D. Bullard, James K. Boyce, Alice Fothergill, Rachel Morello-Frosch and Beverly Wright
Russell Sage Foundation
05/01/2006
And Injustice for All: Workers' Lives in the Reconstruction of New Orleans
Judith Browne-Dianis (Advancement Project,), Jennifer Lai (Advancement Project), Marielena Hincapie (National Immigration Law Center), and Saket Soni (New Orleans Worker Justice Coalition/Advancement Project)
Advancement Project
07/01/2006
Book: "Katrina's Legacy: White Racism and Black Reconstruction in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast"
Eric Mann
08/03/2006
Abandoned and Abused: Orleans Parish Prisoners in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina
American Civil Liberties Union: National Prison Project
08/09/2006
Finding Faith in our Darkest Hour
Xochitl Bervera
Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children
08/30/2006
Commissioners from African diaspora come in solidarity to New Orleans
Arlene Eisen
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
09/03/2006
Dismantling a Community
Center for Community Change
10/01/2006
Book: What Lies Beneath: Katrina, Race, and the State of the Nation
South End Press Collective (editors)
01/02/2007
Proposed Resolution to Protect the Human Rights of People Struggling to Return to and Rebuild the Gulf Coast Region
by Kimberley Richards, People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (New Orleans, LA), Monique Harden, Advocates for Environmental Human Rights (New Orleans, LA)
07/01/2007
Feature Stories from Democracy Now! to mark the 2 Year Anniversary of Katrina
Democracy Now!
08/29/2007
BLUEPRINT FOR GULF RENEWAL: THE KATRINA CRISIS AND A COMMUNITY AGENDA FOR ACTION
Institute for Southern Studies
08/29/2007
International Tribunal DVD
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
08/29/2007
Katrina 2nd Anniversary article round up
Rahula Janowski, Heads Up Collective
08/31/2007
International Tribunal Issues Preliminary Findings: Bus, Blanco, Nagin Committed Crimes against Humanity
Kali Akuno
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
09/10/2007

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WHERE THERE IS OPPRESSION, THERE IS RESISTANCE

Dear Incite! Friends & Supporters, plus letter from Shana Griffin
Nada Elia, Shana Griffin
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
09/11/2005
National Anti-racist Organization Calls for U.N. Investigation of Federal Response to Katrina
People's Institute for Survival and Beyond
09/06/2005
Grassroots Movement Mobilization and Demand Statement
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
09/13/2005
Malik Rahim and medics from SF to DC set up health clinic in New Orleans
San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper
09/18/2005
Momma's Mission
Trymaine D. Lee, Times Picayune
09/18/2005
Shelter and Safety
Jordan Flaherty
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
09/20/2005
The Partner with a Katrina Family Network
People's Institute for Survival and Beyond
People's Institute for Survival and Beyond
09/29/2005
Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
10/08/2005
'ACORN Katrina Survivors Association Will Unite Displaced Residents to Work for a Just Recovery
ACORN: Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
10/18/2005
Floodlines: Catherine Jones' Blog
Catherine Jones
10/25/2005
Demands of the Hurricane Evacuees Council/Bay Area
Hurricane Evacuees Council/Bay Area
11/01/2005
'Roadtrip for Relief.' Call for 300 volunteers to gut houses in the 9th Ward
Common Ground Collective
11/01/2005
New Orleans and Women of Color: Connecting the Personal and Political
Janelle L White, INCITE! New Orleans
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
11/01/2005
Update From Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children
Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children
11/13/2005
Community and Resistance
Jordan Flaherty
11/26/2005
Angry Hurricane Evacuees Sue Feds
C.C. Campbell-Rock
SF Bayview
11/30/2005
For a Former Panther, Solidarity After the Storm
Michelle Garcia
12/04/2005
Justice After Katrina: The People Must Decide! Flyer
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
12/08/2005
Legal Victory Stops Property Demolition - People of New Orleans 9th Ward Win Restraining Order Against City
Cassandra Burrows
12/28/2005
‘Fire on the Bayou’: African American leaders oonverge on New Orleans
CC Campbell-Rock
SF Bayview
01/11/2006
Fighting the Theft of New Orleans: The Rhythm of Resistance
Glen Ford and Peter Gamble
Black Commentator
01/19/2006
People’s Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition, ‘VOLUNTEER PACKET'
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
03/01/2006
Lower Ninth Ward residents win right to clean up and open MLK School
Kerul Dyer
Common Ground Collective
03/19/2006
PHRF Reconstruction Committee Field Work Group Critique of the Bring New Orleans Back Proposal
PHRF Reconstruction Committee
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
03/31/2006
Boat People
Eric Tang
04/01/2006
Malik Rahim and Common Ground: Paving the way home to New Orleans
CC Campbell-Rock
Common Ground Collective
05/22/2006
Dissolving Barriers: New Orleans Latino Health Outreach Project
Catherine Jones and Jennifer Whitney
Latino Health Outreach Project
06/26/2006
Rethinking New Orleans Schools
Jordan Flaherty
08/09/2006
One Year After Katrina: The State of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
Chris Kromm and Sue Sturgis
Gulf Coast Reconstruction Watch
08/15/2006
Commemorating Katrina: More than 50 events planned to honor and heal
New Orleans Network
08/21/2006
Trying to Make it Home: New Orleans One Year After Katrina
Bill Quigley
Justice For New Orleans
08/22/2006
Confronting gender after Katrina: An Interview with Shana Griffin
Elena Everett
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
08/25/2006
Rebuilding Resistance: Organizing Lessons From One Year After The Devastation of New Orleans
Jordan Flaherty
08/25/2006
African American Leadership Project
08/25/2006
One Year Later - Common Ground's Accomplishments
Common Ground Collective
08/29/2006
New Orleanians Bring the Streets to Life on the Anniversary of the Great Flood
Arlene Eisen
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
08/29/2006
New Orleans Call for Action!
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
09/16/2006
The Importance of Civil Disobedience in Post-Katrina New Orleans
Elizabeth Cook
09/17/2006
Dismantling a Community
Center for Community Change
10/01/2006
Home for the Holidays Coalition, Flyer
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
10/12/2006
Come and Volunteer in New Orleans!
Home for the Holidays collaboration: All Congregations Together, Common Ground 9th Ward Projects, People’s Hurricane Relief Fund
Common Ground Collective
10/15/2006
Video Clip: "I Won't Drown on that Levee and You Ain't Gonna Break My Back"
Critical Resistance
10/25/2006
Community Justice: Interview with Robert “Kool Black” Horton
Jordan Flaherty with Jacqueline Soohen
Critical Resistance
12/06/2006
Amnesty for Prisoners of Katrina: A Weekend of Reconciliation and respect for Human Rights
Critical Resistance
12/09/2006
A National Call to Students - “Louisiana Winter”
Tracie L. Washington
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project
12/09/2006
Katrina Amnesty Campaign: on the Status of Prisoners and Public Safety in New Orleans
Critical Resistance
Critical Resistance
12/10/2006
Rebel Survivors: The Vietnamese of New Orleans East won a grassroots victory nobody expected
Eric Tang
01/01/2007
Common Ground Health Clinic Updates
Common Ground Health Clinic
01/06/2007
Join or Support an Incite! Delegation to New Orleans! Updated Call for Delegates
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
02/01/2007
Avery C. Alexander Charity Hospital in New Orleans: A timeline since its forced closure after Hurricane Katrina
K. Brad Ott
02/01/2007
To Render Ourselves Visible: Women of Color Organizing & Hurricane Katrina
Alisa Bierria, Mayaba Liebenthal
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
02/01/2007
A New Agenda for the Gulf Coast: What Congress can do now to confront the ongoing crisis of Hurricane Katrina
Chris Kromm and Sue Sturgis
Gulf Coast Reconstruction Watch
02/01/2007
Katrina Survivors and Immigrant Workers Unite to Arrest Slave Owner
People's Organizing Committee
02/15/2007
No "Road Home" for Renters
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
03/01/2007
The Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic Opens To Serve The Medical Needs Of The Community
Alice Craft-Kerney
Common Ground Collective
03/01/2007
New Orleans Community Spaces in Crisis
Jordan Flaherty
Left Turn
03/07/2007
Survivors Council to Open Lawless High School. Residents and Volunteers Face Down Cops and School Officials
People's Organizing Committee
03/08/2007
Common Ground Responds to City's Attempt to Confiscate Property
Common Ground Collective
03/14/2007
PHRF makes a breakthrough on price gouging and tenant rights in New Orleans
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
03/15/2007
Rep. Waters introduces Katrina Housing Recovery Legislation
ACORN: Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
05/03/2007
New Orleans ACORN celebrates rebuilding victory
ACORN: Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
06/04/2007
Gulf Coast Organizations: Self-Organized Events at the U.S. Social Forum
06/28/2007
Proposed Resolution to Protect the Human Rights of People Struggling to Return to and Rebuild the Gulf Coast Region
by Kimberley Richards, People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (New Orleans, LA), Monique Harden, Advocates for Environmental Human Rights (New Orleans, LA)
07/01/2007
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: No Flood Protection for African American Neighborhoods
Advocates for Environmental Human Rights
07/14/2007
Safe Streets, Strong Communities, Brochure from 2nd Annual Picnic
Safe Streets/Strong Communities
07/29/2007
Racism and Resistance: The Struggle to Free The Jena Six
Jordan Flaherty
Left Turn
08/16/2007
Day of Action Against the Red Cross
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
08/20/2007
Red Cross Calls Cops on Peaceful Picketers
http://www.peopleshurricane.org/red-cross-updates/red-cross-calls-cops-on-peaceful-picketeers.html
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
08/20/2007
International Tribunal Issues Preliminary Findings: Bush, Blanco, Nagin Committed Crimes against Humanity
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
08/29/2007
Two Years Post Katrina: Racism and Criminal Justice in New Orleans
Jordan Flaherty
08/30/2007
HUD's Wrecking Ball: Tightening the Noose Around New Orleans
Bill Quigley
09/25/2007
The Justice that Jena Demands
Xochitl Bervera
Left Turn
09/27/2007
Common Ground Community Adoption Program
Common Ground Collective
10/01/2007
All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Call Home
Anita Sinha
Advancement Project
10/03/2007
Pledge of Resistance in Defense of the Right to Housing in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversight Coalition
10/06/2007
Fact Sheet on HUD Demolition New Orleans
Bill Quigley
10/07/2007
African Village, ‘Algiers African Heritage Celebration.’ A flyer
Common Ground Health Clinic
10/14/2007
Education Versus Incarceration: A Small Louisiana town struggles to shut down a prison and build a school
Jordan Flaherty
10/14/2007
New Orleans Coming Home: A National Panel Hearing on Law Enforcement in the Reconstruction
Safe Streets/Strong Communities
10/27/2007
‘Stardust & Empty Wagons,’ an update from CC Campbell-Rock
C. C. Campbell-Rock
11/07/2007
Everyone has a right to come home
Michael Steinberg & Evan Casper-Futterman
11/21/2007
Safe Streets, Strong Communities, Flyer from 2nd Annual Picnic
Safe Streets/Strong Communities
12/12/2007

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SOME EXAMPLES OF GRASSROOTS RACIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZING IN NEW ORLEANS AFTER KATRINA

This list is a just a partial example of the grassroots organizing in New Orleans. The list does not include the majority of cultural organizations or religious institutions. Please also see the New Orleans Network directory of locally-led community and grassroots organizations. You can also download the full list as a word document (30 pages).

Click on the name of an organization to see a link to their website, their mission statement if available, and a list of the articles they have contributed to this reader.