Hurricane Katrina: Black Folks Speak Out!

Watch these videos. Watch them and feel the pain and frustration one feels when deprived the most basic of nessecceties from the country you call your home. Pray for Katrina Victims. Donate time. Express your feelings. Say something. Do something. It's time we move ourselves into the next phase of American equality and justice.

Kanye 'Gold Digger' Track Remix 'Katrina: Bush Doesn't Care About Black People"
This refix is great! Listen and share.

Kanye West Speaks About Katrina
West: " I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, "They're looting." You see a white family, it says, "They're looking for food." And, you know, it's been five days [waiting for federal help] because most of the people are black. And even for me to complain about it, I would be a hypocrite because I've tried to turn away from the TV because it's too hard to watch. I've even been shopping before even giving a donation, so now I'm calling my business manager right now to see what is the biggest amount I can give, and just to imagine if I was down there, and those are my people down there. So anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help -- with the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible. I mean, the Red Cross is doing everything they can. We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way -- and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us! ... George Bush doesn't care about black people!"

Kanye, I hope all African Americans will stand by you and support you, because you will undoubtly get American backlash for speaking the truth! Much love.


Oprah Winfrey goes into the Superdome
When New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, suggested Oprah not go into the Super dome she courageously responded, "I'm really a strong woman, I really am... I don't want to make a big deal about this but this is why I feel I should be let in, because you had thousands of people who were in here for six days, who had no place to go, so I don't understand now why it's such a big deal that I can't be in to see where thousands of people have been for six days."

Needless to say, Oprhah got in.

Barbara Bush's interview about the poor people who were moved to the astrodome
Mrs. B said, "And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

I didn't know that growing up in poverty makes anyone comfortable with starvation, death, disease, violence, and rape!


Rep. Elijah Cummings took the government to task for their response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster
Mr. Cummings emotion statement was as follows: "...We can not let it be said by history that the difference between those who lived and those who died in this great storm and flood of 2005 was nothing more than poverty, age, or skin color. ... God cannot be pleased."

Indeed, God cannot be pleased.

Breakdown FM: David Banner Picks Up Where Kanye Leaves Off
DAVID BANNER: “I think Hurricane Katrina has exposed America for what it is. I think it’s bigger than black and white. I think it has a lot more to do with rich and poor. We’ve always known that America is a racially driven country. We front like it’s all good, but we know the levels of racism that are in America. I think this is more than just pulling the race card. It shows that America doesn’t give a damn about people in the hood, period. MORE

KRS-One Weighs In on Katrina Situation
KRS- "The Federal Government is known for huge, large spanning operations that focus more upon the preservation of the State than upon any individual person or interest. Therefore, even if the congress approves 100 billion dollars to restore the “State” of New Orleans and the “State” of Mississippi that money will go toward the restoration of the “State” not the rehabilitation of the “People”. Especially not OUR people. No government can fulfill your purpose. No amount of money can help you forget the loss of a loved one."


I am incredibly proud to see that Kanye, Banner, Master P., KRS, Diddy and so many others within the Hip Hop community are stepping up to the plate, and not only talking but DOING something to help the Katrina victims. For a long time now I have been trying to tell old school cats that hip hop not matter how disturbingly commercial, still is making strides in the community. Read a previous post of mind: The Sons and Daughters of Hip Hop


Jesse Jackson speaks with MSNBC's Allison Stewart:
About charges of racism in relief efforts and media coverage after Hurricane Katrina.Among his most impressieve points, Jesse Jackson makes it very clear that there people "Are not Refugees."

This was a very imformative 6 minute interview.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin
In an interview with WWL Radio's Garland Robinette, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin expresses frustration and anger at the federal government. "I don't know what they're [the federal government] doing ...I've talked directly with the President. I've talked to the head of the Home Land Security. I've talked to everybody under the sun to give me executive power... You tell them to delegate the power that they have to the Mayor of New Orleans and we'll get this damn thing fixed. It's politics man and their playing games and their spinning. Their out there spinning for the cameras...You know the reason why the looters got out of control. Because we had most of our resources saving people. Thousands...they don't have a clue of what's going down down here."

His words invoke both sympathy and frustration. I know that Mayor Nagin, Kanye, and every other person who talks about the blatant injustices that took place in those 6 days and possibly years to come, are feeling the backlash from blindly patriotic people claiming that race and class are not an issue. Those of us who have lived within the secret injustices that plague our community know where these words are coming from, and understand that this disaster has simply brought truth into the light.

Beyond filling ourselves with hurt and dispare at the sight of such catastrophies, we need to fill ourselves and fellow sisters and brothers with a feeling of Agency. We need to not only keep the victims of Katrina in our Hearts, we no to go a step further get out in our communities and start uplifting US out of the poverty and racism that keeps America up and us down. We need to network, and support each others. We need to accept our good and understand what turned others bad. Katrina is a wakeup call. It's a sign that its time we save our selves.

Wake up.