There’s been a lot of discussion lately — and some anger — about Big Easy Magazine’s coverage of Systemic Racism in New Orleans and the lasting inequities that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities. We understand where some of the frustration comes from. But it’s important to be clear about what we are doing, and why.
Talking about racial injustice does not mean we are ignoring the struggles of the broader working and middle classes. In fact, much of our reporting on issues like skyrocketing insurance premiums, rising rents, and housing instability directly speaks to the challenges faced by all working people in New Orleans.
But refusing to recognize how these challenges hit some communities even harder because of a long, documented history of discrimination would be a disservice to the truth.
It wasn’t so long ago that Black and Brown Americans in New Orleans, and across this country, were drinking from separate water fountains, using separate bathrooms, and attending underfunded, unequal schools. This isn’t ancient history; it’s within living memory.
The people impacted by those policies, or their immediate descendants, are still living with the consequences.
While some families, often white, were able to pass down advantages like education, stable homeownership, and professional opportunities, many Black and Brown families were systematically denied access to the very building blocks of stability. Redlining kept them out of desirable neighborhoods. Jim Crow laws kept them out of quality schools and good jobs. The aftermath of these policies is still evident today, as explored in our article on the vanishing working-class soul of New Orleans.
Another stark example of racially motivated urban renewal is the construction of the Claiborne Expressway. Before the 1960s, North Claiborne Avenue was a vibrant corridor in the Tremé neighborhood, lined with oak trees and bustling with Black-owned businesses, social clubs, and cultural institutions.
In the 1950s, the federal government incentivized urban freeway construction by covering 90% of the costs. Despite community opposition, the Interstate-10 Claiborne Expressway was constructed above North Claiborne Avenue, leading to the destruction of 500 homes and numerous businesses. The expressway’s presence divided local neighborhoods, caused a collapse in the business district, and diminished overall quality of life. This development not only disrupted the physical landscape but also eroded the cultural fabric of the community. Efforts to reclaim and revitalize the area continue, highlighting the resilience of those affected.
Even today, the data is clear: racial pay gaps persist. Predominantly Black neighborhoods are often under-insured and under-invested. Schools in historically marginalized areas continue to receive fewer resources. Racial disparities in policing and incarceration remain staggering.
If you think discrimination doesn’t exist in New Orleans, even as a majority-Black city, you’re looking at the landscape through a distorted lens.
Consider the criminal justice system, where the legacy of inequality is undeniable. Louisiana has had some of the highest wrongful conviction rates in the nation, disproportionately impacting Black defendants. Cases like those of Robert Jones and Gregory Bright underscore the Systemic Racism in New Orleans issues within our justice system.
Take the case of Henry McCollum and Leon Brown, two intellectually disabled Black teenagers wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in North Carolina. They spent over 30 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated them. Their case underscores the
Systemic Racism in New Orleans that can lead to such grave injustices.
A report from the Death Penalty Information Center highlights that false confessions are prevalent in death row exonerations, often involving vulnerable individuals like McCollum and Brown.
These instances are symptoms of a system built on unequal foundations; they are symptoms of a greater, Systemic Racism in New Orleans.
At the same time, it’s absolutely true that all working people are feeling the crush of today’s economy. Inflation, rising rents, soaring insurance rates, and stagnant wages are squeezing families across racial lines. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian — nobody is immune from the cost of living crisis facing New Orleans.
Big Easy Magazine has consistently covered these economic pressures because they matter to everyone.
But here’s the key point: racial disparities still exist within that broader hardship. Black and Brown families, on average, start out with less generational wealth, face higher insurance premiums, and experience greater barriers to affordable homeownership.
Acknowledging these facts isn’t about blaming anyone. It’s about understanding the full picture so we can work toward real solutions that lift everyone, not just a select few.
Ignoring these realities won’t make them disappear. It will only deepen the divides that hurt our city, our economy, and our collective future.
The legacy of systemic injustice isn’t just visible in housing or wealth gaps. It’s still shaping how young people of color are treated today, with Louisiana continuing to spend millions on youth incarceration rather than investing in real community support.
Our coverage on how Louisiana spends millions to criminalize children delves deeper into this pressing issue.
When Black and Brown communities are locked out of opportunity, all of New Orleans suffers. Poverty and crime rise, and social trust erodes.
Addressing systemic inequities isn’t some niche political cause. It’s common sense. It’s practical. It’s necessary if we want a stronger, safer, more just New Orleans for everyone. Our article on what New Orleans can teach the rest of America about resilience further explores these themes.Â
Progress has been made, but it’s a mistake to think that a few generations can erase the impact of centuries of discrimination. We are still living with the remnants. And if we refuse to face that fact, we are setting ourselves up to repeat history rather than build a better one.
At Big Easy Magazine, we will continue to cover the struggles of all working-class people — while also telling the full truth about how racial injustice continues to shape outcomes.
Doing anything less would be dishonest, and frankly, a betrayal of the very people we claim to serve.
We don’t elevate these stories to divide. We elevate them because you can’t fix what you refuse to see.
Note: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2023, Black or African American individuals represent approximately 13.7% of the U.S. population.
