Bill Bryson's book One Summer America 1927 talks about this.

That they knew how many head of livestock was lost, but they didn't count how many humans died. Because the vast majority were poor black folks.

Disgusting. Hurricane Katrina of the 1920s

@1 That sounds great. And depressing. But I'd like to know more. The film ends in Missouri and Illinois with shots of flood survivors Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, and Sonny Boy Williamson making new fans.

@3 In a manner of speaking. Mostly, Mississippi had levees that were insufficient to withstand the torrential rains that can occur in the region.