Tonight at SOAS there was a showing of WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS by Spike Lee. Discussions about the US are so different from an international standpoint. After a young woman gave a talk on Hurricane Katrina, the floor was opened up to questions and comments. And although I get nervous speaking in public, was moved to touch on how race and class intersects in America. It was interesting to hear the thoughts and opinions of others, but some of Brits in the audience left a bitter taste in my mouth. The consensus seemed to be that this catastrophe is something that could only happen in America. I'm not so sure that the British government would handle a similar situation much better if it befell a group of mostly "undesirable citizens". But that could just be my American sensitivities percolating.I remember being in New York on Sept. 11th 2001, and just knowing that things would never be the same. My life had changed when that beautiful, clear blue sky was pierced by clouds, dust and fires of the collapse of the World Trade Center. That occasion was beyond anything most of us could have ever imagined. And because it was so indiscriminate it brought the city together like nothing else before. It was a man made disaster. And in many ways Hurricane Katrina was too.
Our government on the city, state and federal level knew what a hurricane of that level would mean for the city of New Orleans. And yet, next to nothing was done, and the relief effort was a slapdash one at best. We all know the story; black, brown and overwhelmingly poor and venerable people suffering and dying. On 9/11 although I was scared and didn't know what to expect, at least I knew that on some level the government cared about the welfare of my city and by extension me as well. New Orleans and the Gulf Coast by and large has been forgotten. Left as a playground for wealthy contractors and other business interests to go in and remake the city.
During the documentary I kept on wondering how much more can black and poor people take? In the US blacks deal with so many issues it makes my head spin just thinking about them. Poor white folks are treated disdainfully as well; it's almost as if the voice of America is telling poor white people: "You shouldn't be poor, you're white. You must have messed up." Simply put, the government told our brothers and sisters that they are disposable.
I've been guilty of short term memory and of being overwhelmed by the scale of tragedy in the world and causes to be affiliated with. But the victims of this hurricane haven't had the luxury of simply moving on and changing the channel to a "Living Single" rerun. Not only am I going to remember people whose fate could have been my own as well, but I hope to be shown a way to be a small positive force.
