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 KatrinaWest: " 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 OffDAVID 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. MOREKRS-One Weighs In on Katrina SituationKRS- "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 NaginIn 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.
Katrina. Our Tsunami?
Katrina. Our Tsunami? Read this heated blog post and hear the crazy ignorant comments that people are shouting, as if they don't have one bone of sympathy in their body. As if they don't understand the poverty and racism, that is deeply rooted within the communities that Katrina has hurt the most. It's hard to believe that people can say such things and know that many honestly believe that that racism does not exist in America! Someone began the post as follows: I was reading U.S.A. Today thismorning and there was a local from New Orleans that made the comment "This is our Tsunami", and since he made that comment, i have seen that on the news, and heard news reportes saying "Katrina, Our Tsunami". They are saying this was such a huge devistation and SOOO many deaths. Wait though. How many people are estimated dead from Katrina? A couple Thousand? Alright, well how many died from the Tsunami a few months ago? Ohhh...a Couple HUNDRED thousand. How can we compare this to that tsunami? People over there are STILL dieng from disease, starvation, and all other sorts of crap. This is Nowhere NEAR that tsunami.--------------------------- Project 21 Responds to Black Caucus Criticism of Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts"The comments and actions of the Congressional Black Caucus were morally opprobrious and divisive," said Project 21 member Mychal Massie. "It is beneath the level of sane discourse for the Congressional Black Caucus to suggest that blacks are suffering more than the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have been displaced." Adding to these comments, Project 21 member Kevin Martin points out: "Several of the Congressional Black Caucus' members have districts that have been devastated by this natural disaster. But rather than offering encouragement to those federal, state, local, and private citizens who are responding to this natural disaster, they would rather fan the fames of partisan rhetoric and hatred." I can't believe that people are so blind to these injustices that are so clearly apparent. How can anyone honestly justify a four day delay when 1) There was prior knowledge of the storms deadly impact 2) The US has reacted much more quickly in other situations. It hurts me deeply to read the type of excuses that so many Americans are making for our government. Even Ms. Rice... (AP) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended President Bush on Sunday against charges that the government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina showed racial insensitivity. "Nobody, especially the president, would have left people unattended on the basis of race," the administration's highest-ranking black said as she toured damaged parts of her native Alabama.Posted on CBS News --------------------------- I personally enjoy the AfricanAmerica.org Forum. There you will find a number of concerned, intelligent black people, who have something of substance to say about our issues and concerns, especially with respect to Hurricane Katrina.
Has Katrina Saved U.S. Media?
Hurricane aid pours in
From Sri Lanka to France, emergency relief is sent, but tinged with criticism of US handling of the disaster.By Peter Ford Staff writer of The Christian Science MonitorPARIS – Governments around the world rushed aid and relief teams to America's stricken southern states on Monday - some repaying past favors the United States has offered them to recover from natural disasters - while their citizens continued to express amazement and dismay at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In a dramatic reversal of usual roles, small nations such as Sri Lanka - badly hit by last December's tsunami - have extended their hands to the most powerful country on earth. And after initial ambivalence, American officials were accepting offers of help from over 50 countries with thanks. ... Commentators have returned time and again to the fact that the vast majority of flood victims, left to fend for themselves, are poor African-Americans. "America has been forced to wake up to the racial injustice that has been its historic curse," Jonathan Freedland wrote in Monday's edition of the left-leaning London daily The Guardian.
Hurricane Katrina - African American Relief Efforts
The following links highlight African American organizations and individuals that have joined in aiding the victims of Hurricane Katrina (also posted on AfricanAmerica.org). Please take the time to review these listings, and carefully pick an organization that you feel will best relay your support to those in need. If you can not find something here, don't stop looking. Find out what your church is doing. We all need to play a part in supporting our fellow American citizens. Go inside the superdome with Oprah, and see what you can do to help.
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In this time of national crisis and overwhelming tragedy, click here to find out what you can do to help with the relief effort or find support.
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NAACP Disaster Relief Fund
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the NAACP has launched the Disaster Relief Fund to raise monies through its members and those citizens of good will who want to help. The funds raised will be used to: 1) provide immediate assistance to the worst affected victims, 2) mobilize resources to feed, cloth and shelter displaced victims, and 3) to ensure the equitable distribution of money and resources from Federal, state and local government and other relief agencies.
________________________________ The BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund is providing support to families who are assisting those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.These funds raised by the BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund will go to individual families who have opened their homes to families displaced by Hurricane Katrina, to supplement their personal households as the recovery efforts continue. ________________________________ This site includes a listing of organizations that you can donate and things that you ans an individual can do to help these families in need.It also included the following alternative media outlets where you can get a more accurate and balancedpresentation of the New Orleans catastrophe.... PLEASE VISIT all these websites. Five things you can do to help immediately:
1. Duplicate what we are doing elsewhere in New York City, in your city ortown, on your college campus, at your church, synagogue, mosque, or otherreligious institution, via your fraternity or sorority, or via your localcivic or social organization.
2. Cut and paste the information in this eblast about Items needed by survivors of the New Orleans catastrophe:* Monetary donations* Where you can ship non-perishable items* Alternative media outlets* Five things you can do to help immediatelyand share this information, as a ONE SHEET, with folks near and far, viaemail, or as a hand out at your event, religious institution, and with yourcivic or social organization.
3. Voice your opinion to local and national media, and to elected officials,via letter, email, op ed article, or phonecall, regarding the coverage ofthe New Orleans catastrophe, as well as to the federal government's ongoinghandling of the situation.
4. Ask the hotel you frequent, such as the Marriott or Holiday Inn, to giveyour hotel points to an individual or family in need of a stay for a night,a few nights, or longer, depending on how many points you have. Be sure toget confirmation that your points have been applied in that way. Encourageothers to do the same. Also inquire if your airline Frequent Flyer mileagecan be used for hotel stays as well.
Finally, either offer to pay for hotel rooms, or encourage others to do so,including your place of employment or worship or your organization.5. Dare to care about other human beings, no matter their race, gender,class, sexual orientation, religion, geography, culture, clothing,hairstyle, or accent or language. Like September 11th, the New Orleanscatastrophe is a harsh reminder that all life is precious, as is each day wehave on this earth.
AND REMEMBER that our attention and response to the New Orleans catastropheneeds to happen in three stages...DISASTER, RECOVERY, and REBUILDING. Weneed you for all three stages. posted on: BlackBooksDirect.com ________________________________
Thu Sep 1,10:53 PM ET
NEW YORK - BET is the latest network to announce a telethon to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina, airing as a two-part, four-hour broadcast Sept. 9. From 6 to 7:30 p.m. EDT, the network will present a special edition of "106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live," followed by the telethon, which continues until 10 p.m. Russell Simmons, Chris Rock, Wynton Marsalis and rappers Master P, Juvenile and David Banner are among those scheduled to appear. Announced Thursday, the initiative is in partnership with the National Urban League and the American Red Cross.
posted on: Yahoo News ________________________________ ________________________________
According to the Associated Press, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z have pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. The two rappers announced their donation yestertoday, saying they hoped to inspire others, especially blacks, to give. Jay-Z said he had put in calls to NBA star LeBron James and rapper Kanye West for donations. ________________________________
Master PWith possibly thousands dead, water and food supplies running out and 80 percent of New Orleans submerged in rising waters, rap mogul and native son Master P has been busy trying to coordinate relief efforts to help citizens cope with perhaps the most catastrophic natural disaster ever experienced on U.S. soil.
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While many in the mass media focus on looters and criminals, Black Engineer of the Year Alumni Brigadier General Robert Crear ('04), will play a major role in the Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts. ________________________________ DiversityInc has compiled a list of reputable organizations to help those hurt by Hurricane Katrina. American Red Cross 2025 E St., NW Washington, DC 20006(800) HELP-NOW Hamilton Ave.Stamford, CT 06902(800) 486-HELP PO Box 1211 Albert Lea, MN 56007-121 PO Box 4857 Jackson, MS 39296-4857 (800) SAL-ARMY 1731 King St.Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 549-1390 P.O. Box 6098Burbank, CA 91510
(888) 479-4968 633 Third Ave. New York, NY 10017-6778 (212) 650-4000 www.urj.org/give/Leading organizations of color are also accepting contributions to help Hurricane Katrina victims. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Urban League 120 Wall Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10005 Telephone: (212) 558-5300 http://www.nul.org
(Rainbow/PUSH Coalition is only accepting food and other non-perishables).
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 601 E Street NW Washington, DC 20049 1-800-687-2277 http://www.aarp.org/________________________________ Hurricane Katrina Ravages HBCUsHurricane Katrina has affected several historically Black colleges and universities, reports a news release distributed through BlackNews.com. Dillard University and Xavier University in New Orleans and Tougaloo College in Mississippi are some of the HBCUs with damaged campuses, the release said. The United Negro College Fund has established a special fund to help hurricane-ravaged schools in the gulf coast area. Sep 1, 2005, 09:42
________________________________ Where to donate to organizations who are: Organizing at the grassroots level in New Orleans, Biloxi, Houston and other affected areas Providing immediate disaster relief to poor people and people of color Directed by, or accountable to, poor people and people of color Fostering the democratic inclusion of poor people and people of color in the rebuilding process
________________________________ More Donations and Outreach Commercial Aircraft Baby Food Housing Transportation Emergency Supplies
I have been trying to find organizations that accept goods, in addition to the National Emergence Resource, but most larger organizations are limiting themselves to cash donations because it will require more people to go through the packages and make sure they are okay. I've read that the best thing to do is give goods to your local organizations, that are interested in partcipating in Hurricane Relief efforts.
More links:
A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies. Learn More
________________________________ A Message from a friend:
For those of you who have some airline miles lying around (or are looking to collect some more), many of the major U.S. airlines have programs in place to encourage their frequent fliers to donate to the ARC and other organizations. American AAdvantage and United Mileage Plus, for example, will offer 500 bonus miles to any member who donates $50+ to the ARC this month. Additionally, Delta, Continental, United, and others are encouraging their frequent fliers to donate some frequent flier miles directly to charities (miles-->dollars).
Also, if you have a lot of spare change lying around at home, you should know that you can donate all of it to the American Red Cross by taking your coins over to any Coinstar machine (www.coinstar.com). The last time I did this, it turned out I had $84 just in pennies, nickels, and dimes. That's not too bad at all!
It appears that there are a lot of creative ways to give, so for those of us who may not have a lot, there may still be way to contribute in a meaningful way.
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Hurricane Katrina: African American Relief Efforts
