mic racism entrenched in the affected areas. The literature focuses on the recent past and fails to address the long-term impacts of plantation slavery that have permeated the U.S societal fabric over centuries of discrimination (Beckles 2013; Mintz 1977, 1984; Trouillot 2003; Williams 1961). In 1916, New Orleans passed laws to bolster the creation of black and white territories (Pinder 2009). Residential segregation in New Orleans was a marker of the bigger racial segregation. Black neighbourhoods were characterised by overcrowding, disease outbreaks, poverty and crime (Pinder 2009: 245). The 2000 US Census Bureau reported that 28% of New Orleans was extremely poor and 84% of that statistic was African-Americans (Woldoff & Gerber 2007: 176). Majority of black people in New Orleans could not afford public transportation. 100,000 African-Americans did not own cars thus were unable to escape to safety when Hurricane Katrina hit (Strolovitch et al 2006; Woldoff & Gerber 2007: 178) The absence of this discussion thus creates a gap in understanding the way communities and actors responded to relief efforts. Michael Ignatieff rightly stated; “the safety of blacks mattered so little to the institutions charged with their protection” (Ignatieff 2005: 15). African Americans displaced by the disaster were neglected by the state and left to evacuate on their own. 8000 prisoners, majority of who were black, were left to die in New Orleans prison when the hurricane hit. Several drowned as flood waters filled their cells. The ones who made it to safety were captured by prison guards and taken to an interstate overpass where they were held for two days without water (Pinder 2009). African American citizens looking for safety were touted in a barrage of media reports as refugees, violent gang members, criminals (Dyson 2006: 171). The media coverage had a damaging effect on racial tensions. Racial hostility for blacks intensified as they sought refuge in fairly rebuilt white neighbourhoods such as Gretna in New Orleans (Pinder 2009:249; Dyson 2006: 145). Private prison contractors and the National Guard responded to the disturbances. White police officers terrorized black neighbourhoods and intensified their racial profiling of displaced black people. Displaced African Americans were incarcerated and fed back to the for-profit industrial complex Pinder 2009:249; Dyson 2006: 145. Katrina shone the spotlight on tensions and pre-existing racism. It also cast a shadow on the resolve of the government to end racial segregation and imprisonment of blacks.