I heard the Mayor of New Orleans (who appears to be African American) say what I interpreted as: poor people in this city are mostly black. If they were mostly white, they'd be being ignored too, but nobody would ask if it was because they were white.

I still think it's a class issue. I think trying to make it out as a race issue is devisive and pretty much tells poor white people "You don't have to get involved; you don't have to be concerned. This would never happen to YOU."