KATRINA, LOOTING, and BLACK FOLK…..
Mainstream American Media gets it wrong again. Last night, I came home and watched about 2 1/2 hours of SPECIAL REPORTS concerning people trying to pull there lives together after HURRICANE KATRINA. I was deeply moved by the stories of death, devastation, and survival. Throughout the programming I was praying for those impacted…really praying. On top of making a financial donation myself - I’m preparing to make plans with another minister to get this message on the radio this Sunday. (That is - IF they decide to stop the music for a while).
In the midst of the programs, I grew more and more annoyed by the coverage of “looting”….watching people walking out of stores with TV’s, appliances, clothing, etc. It just didn’t make sense to me that NBC and others would spend that much time on “looting”. While the TV cameras easily found Black Folk “looting”; the cameras couldn’t manage to find anyone else taking a few things back to the family. Why is it so shocking that those shown on TV were “looting”. The areas shown on TV last night were some of the most impoverished communities of New Orleans. Some “expert” got on TV and said that one particular area had a 30 to 40% poverty rate. So why is it surprising that when circumstances arise that puts impoverished people in a position to get some free things that they seize the opportunity? One of my friends also pointed out something that’s very interesting having to do with the racial bias as it relates to “looting”. Look at these two pictures below and their captions:
A young man walks through chest deep flood water after LOOTING (emphasis mine) a grocery store in New Orleans on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Flood waters continue to rise in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina did extensive damage when it made landfall on Monday. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Now look at this picture:
Two residents wade through chest-deep water after FINDING (emphasis mine)bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans, Louisiana.(AFP/Getty Images/Chris Graythen)
Now is it ME or are the human beings in both pictures doing the same thing - namely - TRYING TO SURVIVE!! I dare say that if such a hurricane struck Baltimore (which was recently found to be the 6th poorest city in the nation among cities of similar size) that people would be doing the same thing…as well as in The Bronx, Philly, and other large, impoverished, and primarily minority (I hate that word) communities.
I have a heart for all of those who have been impacted by HURRICANE KATRINA; however, I cannot close my eyes and pretend that racial discrimination doesn’t exists even during times of national crisis.
As I reflected on the terror attacks of September 11,2001; I remember that afterwards people were talking about how everyone pulled together - people of different ethnic backgrounds were joined together - unified to bring healing to a hurting city. I wasn’t up in NY so I don’t know if that was true or just media propaganda; but I do realize the difference with this natural disaster. You do notice that you don’t hear the “we’re all pulling together” line right? Hurricane Katrina struck an area of the country where the tentacles of racial discrimination are still evident. (Mississippi’s own Ray Killen was just convicted of killing 3 Civil Rights workers - a crime he committed more than 40 years ago!) You also have large impoverished communities of people who didn’t have the means by which to evacuate side by side with their more affluent brothers and sisters. Granted some chose to stay, however, if all you had in the world was “Mama’s House” wouldn’t you think twice about leaving it?
It’s evident to me that Katrina did more than uproot a chunk out of the Gulf Coast region. Katrina uprooted and made plain that America still hasn’t, with brutal honesty, confronted its issues concerning its treatment (past & present) of people of color AND of the poor.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:54 pm
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September 1st, 2005 at 10:06 pm
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September 2nd, 2005 at 9:09 am
I am in total agreement. I just don’t understand how we, as one of the richest nations in the world (if not the richest), can be so laxed in our efforts to help our fellow Americans in such a time of need. We keep hearing of people donating to the Red Cross. Where is the Red Cross? Who’s coordinating their efforts? Why are people continuing to go without water, food, shelter, and dry clothing? Harry Connick, Jr. was on the Today Show this morning. He pointed out that he had no major problems getting through to the convention center in New Orleans yesterday. He also noted that several people warned him about the violenc he may face there, but he was welcomed and had an opportunity to look around. He was not held up, shot at, or mugged. People wanted to show what was really happening. The emphasis on the looting has got to stop. Let’s start worrying about lives over worrying about material things. Most of those things are covered by insurance or could be replaced, but those individuals, those valuable human beings, are who need our attention now!
What can we do to emphasize this issue?
September 3rd, 2005 at 1:33 pm
My, my, my. You just exercised the first defense of a Liberal: Shut down all dissenting opinions and views. That’s too bad. I had hoped you were better than that.
I assume you will start name calling next.
Melvin
Author of the two deleted comments.
September 4th, 2005 at 2:31 am
Well… being a suburban white majority who used to believe America was full of equality until I really began living my life side by side those afflicted by poverty in the ‘projects’…. I’ve found your site very interesting… only wish I knew what Mr. Melvin had to say… but nevermind that… i’ll be sure to check your site from time to time in the future.
September 4th, 2005 at 6:10 am
It’s a damn shame, ain’t it? Just the fact that people would sit up there calling people who are starving to death and perishing from dehydration ‘looters’ underscores their racism and the fact that such emphasis was placed on a scene of such profound suffering of American citizens reflects more poorly on the reporters and the demographic they were pandering to than to those desperate souls who they intended to demean with such coverage in the first place. Same ol’, same ol’…
September 4th, 2005 at 9:54 am
Taking food and water…understandable.
Taking watches, television, clothes, and jewelry…looting.
Melvin
September 6th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
To my dear friend Melvin,
I deleted your comment (and mine by the way) because I sensed that it was taking the issue totally away from the primary importance of assessing the situation down in the Gulf Region. You attacked my credibility for saying that some people were left to die on Interstate 10. (Which did happen) Now, I respect and defend your right to say I’m not credible and to say that my comments were “moronic”, but I felt like us going back and forth didn’t do anything to talk about how those affected by Hurricane Katrina were going to be assisted. I even tried to redirect the conversation back by letting you know that I was giving ($) to charitable organizations and asking you if you were in a position to give as well. You totally side stepped the question! Now hear me out, Melvin. You want to criticize me? fine. You want to attack my character? cool. You want to say I’m moronic and lack credibility? I defend your right to do it. But in situations where hundreds (if not thousands) of people are in a dire predicament - I would think that compassionate, intelligent people like you and I would find ways and discuss ways to help (or maybe even analyze what went wrong) rather than attacking each other for our opinions. I mean come on! We can debate from now until next year, but who does that help in this situation?! You want to debate theology? Let’s do it. You want to discuss “pulpit pimps”? Come on. You want to talk politics? I’m with you. BUT IF PEOPLE ARE IN NEED (ESPECIALLY IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF A DISASTER) LET’S AGREE TO KEEP “THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING”.
The diatribe can wait……
So, how have you decided to assist those in the Gulf Region again? and do you need a partner in doing so?
September 9th, 2005 at 2:47 pm
I’ve been thinking about this disaster and the poor response quite a bit over the past few days. It saddens my heart to see the people of the Gulf region suffering, but it hurts me even more to see them being characterized as “menaces to society”. These poor people have experienced a tragedy, not a life-changing event, but a life-devastating event. The thing that is really bothering me at the moment is the distribution of debit cards worth $2000. I know these displaced citizens need help on all levels, financially, spiritually, medically, etc., but I feel like the distribution of these debit cards is the government’s way out. Right now, we find ourselves observing the beginning of a crisis. In turn, food, clothing, and shelter are of top priority. I feel like the government should be more concerned about securing shelters and supplying the basic life necessities (food, water, clothing, toiletries) for the displaced citizens than distributing debit cards. My fear is that people will go out and spend the money on frivolous things, and then be left empty-handed six months from now when the shelters are closing down, and they are forced to provide for themselves with no or little money. I personally believe that it would have been a better idea for the government to solicit corporations to donate goods, as well as, money to provide for the victims. I’m sure the Nike and New Balance can spare some shoes. I’m sure that Hanes can spare some shirts. I would even bet that Dial can spare some soap. I believe all of the hurricane victims needs could have been met without the immediate distribution of these debit cards. Why not give the victims the debit cards when they are leaving the shelter? What about giving them somethng to help out once they are finally gaining some normalcy in their lives? My hope is that the government doesn’t flop in the end, but instead helps these citizens throughout this entire challenge. Just my two cents…
September 13th, 2005 at 10:04 pm
The really sad part of that (other than you know, the whole disaster thing) is that the black guy is wearing a golf shirt and the two white kids are all punked/thuged out.
September 17th, 2005 at 12:45 am
Here is the thing I love, we now have turned this entire disaster into an arguement of black v/s white as oppose to trying to fix the real problem gott say great job people–>