From New Orleans to NOLA: Exploring Gentrification and Cultural Displacement in Post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans

This undergraduate thesis will explore the relationship between gentrification and cultural displacement in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, New Orleans saw a massive wave of housing displacement of local residents, particularly in African American neighborhoods known for their unique cultural traditions. The culture of Black New Orleanians is integral to the economic success of the city’s tourism industry, a vital facet of its economy. Currently, there is limited research that investigates whether the population displacement of Black New Orleanians has led to cultural displacement of New Orleanian culture. Analyzing the relationship between gentrification, the tourism industry, and cultural traditions will inform an understanding of cultural displacement in post-Katrina New Orleans. Through interviews and supplemental data analysis, this thesis will examine how New Orleans residents, civic officials, and tourism leaders have experienced population and cultural shifts in the city since Hurricane Katrina made landfall.