2008 Woodie Awards
Black and White: An issue with Katrina?
Mark Robertson-Baker Ranger Reporter
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Issues
- Page 1 of 1
On Aug. 29, Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast. Days later, in the wake of the overwhelming storm, a hurricane of conspiracy hit the American public.
Was the government slow to help the victims because they were predominantly black? Did the New Orleans police force see black looters as criminals and white looters as desperate and only searching for food and water?
During the NBC benefit concert for the Hurricane Katrina victims, Kanye West strayed from the script and announced, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
West went on to say, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. If you see a white family, they're looking for food."
It seemed that West broke the ice with his remarks. Soon after, news stories covering the issue of race and Katrina began to surface. The water cooler has been surrounded with talk of this possible government-involved racial bias ever since.
Is a conspiracy against poor black Americans possible? Of course, it is.
However, in a community that is predominantly black and poor, it also is possible the majority of victims were black and, because most of the victims were poor, they were unable to pay their way out of the danger zone.
More than two-thirds of New Orleans residents are black. The city's mostly black communities were located in the lowest-lying areas of the city.
The flooding waters rendered one neighborhood, the Lower Ninth Ward, completely unsafe to live. In that area, 98 percent of the residents are black, with more than a third living in poverty.
Freshman Brandi Keen, 24, said, "No, I do not think Hurricane Katrina is a 'black problem.' I think the reason it took so long to provide supplies and relief to the victims was because the situation was poorly handled.
"FEMA was not prepared to handle any disaster, let alone one of this caliber."
In the still live wake of such a disaster, the issue of race has remained afloat. Did the fact that many of the residents of the disaster areas are black influence the actions of the law enforcement and relief efforts?
We might never know for sure. With the majority of the victims being black, what do you think?
Was the government slow to help the victims because they were predominantly black? Did the New Orleans police force see black looters as criminals and white looters as desperate and only searching for food and water?
During the NBC benefit concert for the Hurricane Katrina victims, Kanye West strayed from the script and announced, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
West went on to say, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. If you see a white family, they're looking for food."
It seemed that West broke the ice with his remarks. Soon after, news stories covering the issue of race and Katrina began to surface. The water cooler has been surrounded with talk of this possible government-involved racial bias ever since.
Is a conspiracy against poor black Americans possible? Of course, it is.
However, in a community that is predominantly black and poor, it also is possible the majority of victims were black and, because most of the victims were poor, they were unable to pay their way out of the danger zone.
More than two-thirds of New Orleans residents are black. The city's mostly black communities were located in the lowest-lying areas of the city.
The flooding waters rendered one neighborhood, the Lower Ninth Ward, completely unsafe to live. In that area, 98 percent of the residents are black, with more than a third living in poverty.
Freshman Brandi Keen, 24, said, "No, I do not think Hurricane Katrina is a 'black problem.' I think the reason it took so long to provide supplies and relief to the victims was because the situation was poorly handled.
"FEMA was not prepared to handle any disaster, let alone one of this caliber."
In the still live wake of such a disaster, the issue of race has remained afloat. Did the fact that many of the residents of the disaster areas are black influence the actions of the law enforcement and relief efforts?
We might never know for sure. With the majority of the victims being black, what do you think?