A Chocolate City No More? Exploring Racial Polarization and Population Shifts in Post-Katrina New Orleans Pubblico

Abstract

This paper explores population shifts in New Orleans that occurred as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and the impact of such shifts on the outcome of mayoral elections. The research focuses on the movement of African Americans out of New Orleans, and the notion that this movement created a favorable climate for the election of the city's first white mayor in nearly four decades. Drawing primarily from voter registration and election returns data, this paper seeks to illustrate that the "black exodus" out of New Orleans created conditions that finally allowed Mitch Landrieu to be elected mayor of that city, while simultaneously putting an end to three decades of black mayoral control.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Surveying the Field 9

Racialization vs. Deracialization: Is One More Effective? 21

New Orleans' Mayoral Elections: A Closer Look 51

Table 1: Average Percentage of Support Based on Black Population in 2002 55

Graph 1: Nagin's Black Support in 2002 57

Table 2: Average Percentage of Support Based on Black Population in 2006 59

Graph 2: Nagin's Black Support in 2006 60

Table 3: Average Percentage of Support Based on Black Population in 2010 63

Graph 3: Landrieu's Black Support in 2010 64

Map 1: Black Population, Nagin Vote Share and Turnout in 2002 66

Map 2: Black Population, Nagin Vote Share and Turnout in 2006 67

Map 3: Black Population, Landrieu Vote Share and Turnout in 2010 68

Graph 4: Nagin 2006 Support by Change in Black Population 72

Conclusion 73

References 77

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Political Science
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Political Science, General Black Studies
Parola chiave	mayoral elections New Orleans racial polarization Hurricane Katrina population shifts
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Gillespie, Andra, Emory University
Committee Members	Owens, Michael Leo, Emory University Ashmore, Susan, Emory University

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