Prior to the Civil Rights Act, the Voters Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, New Orleans was a legally segregated city filled with black and white people.

The 60's and 70's saw a vast transition. With the legal authority for segregation erased, whites fled the city for Jefferson and St. Bernard and St. Tammany. Those that stayed behind created private schools and clubs so they would not have to use public facilities. The result was a re-segregation of the city.

The Orleans public schools became overwhelmingly black and began a decline that ended with their takeover by the state after the storm.

Public recreation including parks, pools and the athletic programs of the New Orleans Recreation Department became all black enclaves. Whites opened their own corresponding entities as private clubs.

Oil money was plentiful so it was easy to pay taxes and pay again for private services. The oil bust of the 80's played its role in accelerating white flight. Professionals were transferred to Houston, Atlanta or overseas in increasing numbers. Others could no longer afford to pay twice. Facing a declining tax base, Orleans raised sales taxes and fees making matters even worse.

By 1990 there were once again two New Orleans. One was black only, desperately poor, dependent on government services or low paying service jobs. The other was made up of several races including blacks, affluent, living in gated communities, and subdivisions, attending private schools and clubs, and eating their meals in the restaurants.