Struggling against the Black Tide: Vietnamese Fishermen and the Politics of the BP Oil Spill

Abstract

Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans gained national attention after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when they were among the first groups to return to the devastated city. However, the BP Oil Spill in 2010 caused further disruption, severely impacting their livelihoods and the broader fishing industry in Louisiana. This article examines the imbalance of power in the compensation process managed by BP’s claims agency, highlighting that not only Vietnamese Americans, but also White and Black fishers, faced structural challenges and exclusion. By tracing the experiences of the Vietnamese fishing community, this study explores how they navigated the process of seeking recognition and justice while resisting the constraints of BP’s compensation protocols. Ultimately, the article argues that the collective efforts of affected individuals and community organizations have the potential to challenge and reshape systems of power and inequality.

Received: 14^th April, 2025; Revised: 9^th July, 2025; Accepted: 10^th October, 2025.