Part 6/9:
A significant aspect of the 1928 hurricane narrative is the racial dynamics at play. The bulk of the casualties were African American farmworkers, who were often subjected to inequitable treatment even during the storm's aftermath. Many had been implored to evacuate but were denied assistance or refuge from their white employers. Tragically, while the white homeowners were documented and buried with care, the victims from the black community were largely disregarded.
The burials reflected stark inequalities: the white victims received individual graves that were marked, while the black victims were buried en masse without identification. The casual disregard for these lives directly ties into a long history of systemic racism that has shaped many facets of American society.