Study: Less Black Women in Post-Katrina New Orleans

Fewer Black women remained, returned or moved to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, according to a new report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, reports the Louisiana Weekly. While Black women continue to be the largest group of women in New Orleans, the population of White women has increased from 43.1 percent to 51.6 percent, and Hispanic women from 5.3 percent to 6.8 percent, while the number of Black women in the city dropped from 47.2 percent to 37.3 percent.

While New Orleans rebuilds, African-American women and children see little change. According to the report, a lack of affordable housing options and fewer employment opportunities continue to hold back the progress of Black women in the city. The employment gap between White and Black women is most troubling. In 2008, Black women made 48.6 cents for every dollar made by White women, while Hispanic women made 53.2 cents for every dollar made by White women.

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research report was based on statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.