I Just Got A Few Questions...

September 15, 2005

Hey everyone. I know. Its just been too long. But you know how it is: teaching, meetings, trying to locate loved ones in Mississippi, my own academic and personal writing, working on the Raising Our Voices writing project and trying to squeeze in a fitness workouts in the midst of all the madness. So, its been a little bit crazy, but just having a day to stay in and get caught up with myself has been a blessing indeed.

Ok, now back to the most pressing issues of the year: Ms. Katrina. All I want to say is that I AM NOT FOOLED, MR. BUSH, MR. NAGAN, MRS. BLANCO and all of your cohorts. Someone has got to say it. You all can talk about draining the city and stalking looters on "Mogadishu Mile" (let’s keep on Africanizing this tragedy as often as we can)...and opening restaurants in the French quarter and allowing folks to come back to the city....BUT AIN’T NOBODY FORGOTTEN.

Hello, hello, ok, let me not say we, but I will speak for myself in through here. FORGETTING IS TAKING PLACE...HELLO...FORGETTING IS ABSOLUTELY TAKING PLACE. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS DO INDEED REMAIN:

---Has every refugee received the $2000 from FEMA or Red Cross? And if these monies are being placed in bank accounts, what impact does this have on individuals without the benefit of bank accounts in their new communities or in the communities impacted by the Hurricane?

—Where have people gone exactly? For how long? Under what circumstances?

—Are families who have sheltered survivors receiving aid for their support of new additions to their households?

—If individuals were shipped, flown or sent away, how do these individuals return to the area to assess damage, recover personal affects and figure out how to return to the cities. If we learn nothing else, we must be clear that the priveledge of those who were able to flee also allows them to return as assess their damages and begin the process of rebuilding.

—Its fabulous that the French Quarter is up an runnng, but what is the state of areas still devastated by water, mud and chemical sludge? How did the mayor decide on the numbers of people that will be allowed to return and who will not be?

—Is there any record of employment status for those who’ve been displaced?

—Is anyone concerned about increased gun purchases in communities where survivors are congregating being bought by local residents to "defend themselves against new arrivals"?

—Is there any concern about the environmental concerns for water, food, chemical and toxin exposure for those in a hurry to return to the sit and get back to business etc.,.
What no one seems to be concerned about is the fact that thousands of poor folks—in particular poor black folks have been scattered to the winds across this nation who had no resources to leave so how the hell would they ever be able to return?

I’m sitting here listening to Anderson Cooper conmplaining about what individuals didn’t do shortly after the disaster. But my concern is what is happening with or for those who have been displaced—how are they supporting themselves, are they locating jobs, housing, healthcare, basic necessities in new communities? Cooper just reported that the focus is on rebuilding the city and access of business and industry to the city which just does not bode well for what kind of access the most needy or vulnerable will have access to in this New New Orleans.

I just can’t help but feel that now that things are calmer, that the President, military and local government seem to act as if the slate has been wiped clean of pesky citizens and they can now be about the business of rebuilding the city per their specification...and by the way, I just wish someone would tell Mayor Nagan that his days are numbered. You cain’t cuss out them good ole boys and embarrass them nationally and think you are going to survive very long...especially with so few Black folk in the community to have your back.

Later on yall, later on!—Nicole