Ashana Bigard

Ashana Bigard is a powerful voice in documenting the intersection of disaster, social justice, and community resistance. As both witness and analyst, Bigard brings a unique perspective to understanding how catastrophic events reveal and amplify existing systems of inequality.
In “Beyond Resilience: Katrina 20,” Bigard presents a compelling examination of Hurricane Katrina’s lasting impact twenty years later, moving far beyond simple narratives of survival and recovery. This groundbreaking work explores the complex web of capitalism, racism, and classism that shaped both the disaster’s devastating effects and the communities’ responses to it.
The book tells the story of before and after—revealing how pre-existing economic structures and social hierarchies determined who suffered most when the levees failed, and who had access to recovery resources in the aftermath. Bigard demonstrates how disaster becomes a lens that magnifies systemic inequalities, showing how capitalism, racism, and classism converge to create compounding harm for marginalized communities.
But “Beyond Resilience” is more than an indictment of failed systems. It’s a testament to the power of cultural resistance and community knowledge. Bigard illuminates how affected communities drew on their cultural wealth, collective identity, and inherent value to not only survive but to demand recognition and justice. The book argues that true recovery requires more than rebuilding infrastructure—it demands that society acknowledge the full humanity and worth of all communities.
Through careful analysis and compelling storytelling, Bigard challenges readers to understand disaster not as an isolated event, but as a moment that reveals fundamental truths about power, privilege, and the extraordinary strength found in community solidarity. This work is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how we can move beyond mere resilience toward genuine transformation and justice.
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