Abstract
It has become fashionable to label August 2005’s devastating Hurricane Katrina as “the greatest natural disaster in American history,” when considering the combined loss of life, massive destruction, economic impact, and prolonged displacement of citizens. What is less often discussed is that from the perspective of New Orleans’s African American population, Katrina’s aftermath has potentially launched the greatest cultural disaster in this country’s history. The United States is a comparatively young nation that lacks the presence of many original vernacular traditions and the rich cultural history that can be found in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Despite this, the city of New Orleans embodies the variety, longevity, level of community involvement, and social relevance of its several one-hundred-plus-year-old African American folk traditions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
