Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The Political and Cultural Economy of Recovery: Social Learning in a Post-Disaster Environment

A Vietnamese-American community in New Orleans recovered fairly quickly from Hurricane Katrina, whereas the city's Upper and Lower Ninth Wards continue to struggle more than five years after the storm.



The.........Vietnamese community near the Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church (MQVC) in New Orleans East. Composed of immigrants, many of whom arrived in New Orleans in 1975, this group presents a success story that illustrates the importance of community action and “socially embedded resources.” Although the BNOB suggested in a November report (two months after Katrina) that “significant study” was needed before any rebuilding, and the ULI recommended that the area be turned into open space, within weeks of Katrina, MQVC residents were returning and beginning to rebuild. Within one year, three thousand people had returned to the community, and in two years 90 percent of the community’s residents had returned. A charismatic leader, Father Vien, who began to hold church services shortly after Katrina, provided key leadership by “signaling” to the community that rebuilding would proceed. The author characterizes the community’s view as “we have all been through worse and shall overcome this hardship” (p. 73, emphasis in original). (How many could say that?) Many of these people had already overcome great hardships, fleeing twice from Communist expansion in Vietnam (an experience that prepared them well for Katrina, it turns out). The MQVN example indicates how cultural tools and a historical narrative can create a cohesive, confident, and resilient community.

The Upper and Lower Ninth Ward.........is a relatively poor, predominantly African American group that struggled with recovery more than most communities. Although many community members had a “sense of place” and believed that “God has a plan” (p. 119), the community lacked the direction to undertake meaningful rebuilding. Only 11 percent of the pre-Katrina population had returned to the Lower Ninth Ward by June 2008 (p. 113), notwithstanding the ecofriendly homes that Brad Pitt’s Make It Right organization built there.

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