FEMA's No Role Model

In the wake of hurricane Katrina, FEMA stood accused of neglect, bias and blatant disregard for people of color. A close examination of the FEMA organization has revealed evidence of deep-rooted inequality even within its ranks.

Diversity Inc. published an exclusive report yesterday, which revealed that FEMA - the Federal Emergency Management Association - is plagued by racial inequities. Information was obtained as a result of a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Reports revealed that FEMA's leadership is almost entirely White: of the organization's 10 regional directors, all are White, and of the 19 senior staff members, only one is a person of color and she (a Black woman) is the Director of FEMA's Office of Civil Rights.

Information also revealed that the organization has received a disproportionate number of discrimination claims against it, with claims of race and gender bias rising at an alarming rate in the past year alone.

The absence of leaders of color becomes an issue when many of the citizens FEMA is supposed to help are people of color and poor. This inability to relate to poor people of color has resulted in a growing number of complaints from Katrina victims indicating their feeling that they have not been treated with respect by FEMA employees.

"Perceived inequity" is a phrase that has been tossed around since hurricane Katrina first touched down in Mississippi and New Orleans. Whether or not FEMA intended to neglect victims because of race, the outcome nonetheless remains the same: the glaring absence of leaders and representatives of color - those who could otherwise have spoken out against such perceptions and spoken to the needs of this population - ultimately hurt both FEMA and the Bush Administration.

Visit Diversity Inc for more information about FEMA and this exclusive report. (Diversity Inc. offers a free 7 day membership which you can use to access this and other related information.)