New Orleans after the Promises: Poverty, Citizenship, and the Search for the Great Society

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NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE PROMISES This page intentionally left blank KENT B. GERMANY NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE PROMISES Poverty, Citizenship, and the Search for the Great Society THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA PRESS ATHENS AND LONDON © 2007 by the University of Georgia Press Athens, Georgia 30602 All rights reserved Set in New Caledonia by BookComp Printed and bound by Maple-Vail The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. Printed in the United States of America 11 10 09 08 07 C 5 4 3 2 1 11 10 09 08 07 P 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Germany, Kent B., 1971– New Orleans after the promises : poverty, citizenship, and the search for the Great Society / Kent B. Germany. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8203-2543-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8203-2543-0 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-8203-2900-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8203-2900-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. New Orleans (La.)—Politics and government—20th century. 2. New Orleans (La.)—Social policy. 3. New Orleans (La.)—Economic conditions—20th century. 4. New Orleans (La.)—Race relations—History— 20th century. 5. African Americans—Civil rights—Louisiana—New Orleans— History—20th century. 6. Poverty—Louisiana—New Orleans—History— 20th century. 7. Citizenship—Louisiana—New Orleans—History—20th century. 8. Political participation—Louisiana—New Orleans—History—20th century. 9. Liberalism—Louisiana—New Orleans—History—20th century. I. Title. F379.N557G47 2007 976.3'35064—dc22 2006031009 British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available ISBN for this digital edition: 978-0-8203-4258-0 To Mary and them and To Lovie (1904–1990) This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America. . . . [T]he war against poverty will not be won here in Washington. It must be won in the field, in every private home, in every public office, from the courthouse to the White House. —President Lyndon B. Johnson, State of the Union Address, January 8, 1964 I’m sick of all the people who talk about the things we can’t do. Hell, we’re the richest country in the world, the most powerful. We can do it all. —President Lyndon B. Johnson to Speechwriter Richard Goodwin, 1964 All I want, and what the brothers want, is to share in the good life. —Robert Richardson, Black Power Advocate, New Orleans, 1968 ...