Katrina, Media and Race Noise

Race and Katrina Disaster: The Chatter Undergirding The Tragedy
September 16, 2005

One of the things keeps going through my mind is the spirit behind the conversations taking place in post-Katrina America and its media. This is how it sounds to my weary ears:

Black Folks (generally): It’s about race and class. Look at the people who were left behind. They had long been left behind before the levees gave way.

President Bush: No it’s not. Now, me, aw-shucks-guffaw-I was no where to be found, but relief workers have had no color.

Media: Is it really about race...hmmm, that would make good copy...a new fresh angle on an issue we couldn’t see on our own until four days later? Are you sure, Black folks? Wait, let’s call a bunch of white folks and ask them if this is about race....We’ll they say it wasn’t about race...So see, Black folk, we told you it wasn’t about race after all...whew...that was a close one!.

White Folks (generally): No, its not. It was about the power of the storm. How can they say that? Besides, if you all hadn’t been acting so scary and looting and such maybe we would have given a damn and saved you.

Black Folk: (fall silent)
Why do we bother speaking at all. No one ever listens anyway. Unfortunately, the fact that we are never heard is nothing more than insurance that things will never change for Black folks in America.

Go ‘head, go head Kanye, go ‘head, uh, go ‘head Kanye!
—Nicole