Katrina is an American tragedy. There were times when the aftermath was taking place and I asked myself, 'Is this the city I know and love?' It's as though certain people after the hurricane cheered that lots of African-Americans were displaced. The cocktail commentary was, 'Good, these folks are gone. We will rebuild the city without them.' I don't understand it. 
-- Marc Morial
Marc Morial was born January 3, 1958 in New Orleans, the city he would later serve as mayor. Politics were always an important part of his life. His father, Ernest N. Morial, was the first African-American mayor of New Orleans. Morial received a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Pennsylvania and then earned a Juris Doctorate degree in from Georgetown University.
Morial served as a board member for the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union before an unsuccessful run for Congress in 1990. However, he did earn a seat
in the Louisiana state senate in 1992. He won his first mayoral election in 1994 and was reelected in 1998.
Morial tried to build on what his father had worked so hard to accomplish, insisting that 35% of the city�s contracts go to black-owned companies. During his tenure, Morial helped negotiate the return of an NBA franchise to the city by leading negotiations that relocated the Charlotte Hornets. In 2003, Morial accepted the position of President and CEO of the National Urban League, a major African-American advocacy group.
Morial served as a board member for the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union before an unsuccessful run for Congress in 1990. However, he did earn a seat
in the Louisiana state senate in 1992. He won his first mayoral election in 1994 and was reelected in 1998.
Morial tried to build on what his father had worked so hard to accomplish, insisting that 35% of the city�s contracts go to black-owned companies. During his tenure, Morial helped negotiate the return of an NBA franchise to the city by leading negotiations that relocated the Charlotte Hornets. In 2003, Morial accepted the position of President and CEO of the National Urban League, a major African-American advocacy group.
