OPINION:
Flooding the Airwaves with Ignorance

By Danielle Hobbs

African-American communities across the country are outraged by comments made by our governmental officials and journalists. Economic standing, race, and now word choice has become the controversy in accurately depicting the tragedy in New Orleans. Words like “refugee” have placed the “escaping” African-American citizens of New Orleans into a caste system. As governmental officials and journalists look on, they watch with pity, likening parts of New Orleans to Third World countries.

Wolf Blitzer, anchorman for CNN, boldly displays his ignorance stating on Sept. 1, “You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals...many of these people, almost all of them that we see are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold.” What is baffling about that statement is that there is not a logical link between being “black” and the tragic aftermath of Katrina.

However, Blitzer’s statement only scratches the surface. Mark Williams, radio journalist, babbles: “They [African-Americans] didn’t have the necessary brains and common sense to get out of the way of a Cat 5 Hurricane... The only role race plays in this is that the American black population has been the prototype for an entire race of people, being turned into a group of dependents of the government…” African-Americans in New Orleans do not have “brains and common sense”? What many fail to realize it that it was not only African-Americans who refused to leave their homes during the hurricane.

It is 2006, and deep-rooted racism and prejudice still rears its ugly head. For most of the African-American community, though, they are outraged but they are not surprised. “Ignorance can be found anywhere. It’s not a matter of black or white nor rich or poor,” explains Reverend G. Harris of Middlesex County.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina left many to search for food and water to survive. The “looting” situation in New Orleans has caused many to watch the remaining residents of New Orleans with judgmental eyes.

However, even in judgment there is disparity. According to the Associated Press, “A young [black] man walks through chest-deep floodwater after looting a grocery store in New Orleans...” Later on they report, “Two [white] residents wade through chest-deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans...” Is it still “looting” when there is no one to guard the merchandise? According to Steven Sailer, radio talking head in Sacramento, Calif., “In contrast to New Orleans, there was only minimal looting after the horrendous 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan — because, when you get down to it, Japanese aren’t blacks.”

However, Reverend Harris speaks on behalf of the African-American community with a quite different view on the subject. “White people don’t have to be in front of a camera to steal. They sign documents or electronically remove money from people’s 401k plans. The poor blacks of Louisiana didn’t have access to that technology.”

“But how can you blame a man if he steals when he is hungry? The Scripture says, “Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.” (Proverbs 6:30-31) “God judges with equity,” says the reverend. “He looks on men’s hearts and not the color of their skin.”

Sharon Robinson Briggs, president of the Plainfield Chapter of the NAACP, says, “We are not happy. Families have been separated. What has occurred in the Gulf Coast is a result of a lot of horrific decisions and has caused catastrophic conditions for African-Americans and other people of color.”

In response to the tragedy, the NAACP has sent some of their own to support the victims and the reports have been more alarming than expected. “One of our own members is in New Orleans and he has reported that in a lot of the rescue missions African-Americans were passed over to escort Caucasians out of the area,” she continues in exasperation “This is not the way to treat human life. Racism is very much alive. William Bennett, the secretary of Education under [former President] Bush proves that.”

Briggs is referring to a blunder of a statement made by William Bennett on Sept. 30. “If you wanted to reduce crime, you could — if that were your sole purpose — you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossibly ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down,” he said.

“Some folks live in the Dark Ages, and it is reflected through their ignorant comments and actions. However, we will continue to survive,” concludes Briggs.

There remains a plethora of ignorant statements from the ranks of some of the highest officials in government, including former First Lady and mother of our current president, Barbara Bush. “What is kind of scary is that so many of them wish to stay in Texas. So many of the people, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this” — she states with a slight chuckle — “this is working out very well for them.”

To imply that living in a shelter is ‘good enough’ for the former residents of New Orleans takes the cake. There it is, ladies and gentlemen, the political regime and media machine have spoken and in the process have set black and white relations back hundreds of years.

(The writer is president of the Black Student Association.)