The picture in New Orleans is bad. John McQuaid and the USA Today are reporting on the need for more than a Band-Aid for New Orleans. Now we learn that New Orleans deaths are up 47% Story HERE. As John McQuaid notes "The big picture here is still, well, scary." More HERE
My question is, Where's the Outrage? why are so many black bloggers not reporting about New Orleans? Are the majority of black bloggers becoming just like the main stream media regarding New Orleans? With Black Gossip Blogs Replacing Mainstream Media why are black bloggers not talking about New Orleans and placing maximum attention on the fact that American Politicans (including House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn) would rather spend billions on Bush's WAR rather than rebuild an American city?
It seems that we as black bloggers have the power of communications and would rather Gossip than engage in a conversation about how to save our people, our American city. The plight of New Orleans is an American disgrace.
As USA Today reports "Hurricane Katrina's tragic aftermath lingered for at least a year after the storm abated, boosting New Orleans' death rate last year by 47% compared with two years before the levees broke, researchers reported Thursday. Doctors say the dramatic surge in deaths comes as no surprise in a city of 250,000 mostly poor and middle-class people who lost seven of 22 hospitals and half of the city's hospital beds. More than 4,486 doctors were displaced from three New Orleans parishes, creating a shortage that still hampers many hospitals, says a companion study released Thursday. The indigent suffered the brunt of the health toll from the 2005 storm. The Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, two hospitals that made up the city's safety net for the uninsured, were severely damaged. Charity Hospital, oldest and best known of the two, remains closed. More HERE
There are things that are going on in America that are an Assault on Black Sanity. Black bloggers need to stop Acting White regarding New Orleans. We need our AfroSpear Think Tank to address Katrina and make it part of our Black Agenda. The brothers and sisters of New Orleans need and deserve black bloggers unfied help. Yes it's going to take the Field Negro, Jack and Jill' Politics, The Free Slave, people from The Electronic Village, BygBaby's, brothers and sisters from Cananda, Bronze Trinity, and so many other black bloggers from around the AfroSphere to bring more attention to the plight of our people, who have been displaced, dislocated and disoriented by a system of local, state and federal governments who seem not to care. Black bloggers such as AfroNetizen, Black Agenda Report, Black Agenda Blog, Black Commentator, Booker Rising,Dogon Village, Dell Gines, Jack and Jill Politics, Mirror On America, Republic of T, Field Negro, Acting White, Skeptical Brotha, Native Son, Where's the Outrage?, reid report, Prometheus 6 and a number of black bloggers have been covering New Orleans on a regular basis.
Don't you think it's time we as black bloggers become more Active and make a collective effort to keep New Orleans on the front page of Black America's thinking and action, if not all America's mind?
Should we hold politicans accountable in the 2008 election for not truly helping to rebuild the families of Katrina victims? Should we be blogging more about our New Orleans brothers and sisters?
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18 comments:
Why does it black bloggers that have dropped the ball? Are only black people dying in New Orleans? Even if they were, should only black people be concerned?
Well Tavis Smiley is hosting 2 presidential debates where bloggers can discuss the issues http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/02/08/entertainment/e201159S79.DTL and maybe Black bloggers can get involved here. The debates are going to be based on Black issues. Plus there is going to be a YouTube debate http://www.searchenginejournal.com/presidential-debate-the-youtube-way/5112/ where Black bloggers can send in video questions. I'm going to post this at the Afrospear forum as an announcement because these are two chances for us to get our voices heard.
David, Do we not remember the pictures of the people left behind at the dome? Do you remember the pictures of the people who died on the New Orleans highway of death during those days in which no one From the Federal Government of State Government seemed to Care.
Thank god for the Coast Gaurd, national guard and local police (most of them) who cared enough to pluck our people off of roofs? Yes, the responsibility to address this issue is with black folks. we are our brothers (and sisters) keeper. If we expect others to address this issue without our loud voices speaking out - it will never happen.
Others should be concerned, but as usual, we must be the moral voice of America.
But that is just my opinion.
I agree with you BT, Maybe the AfroSphere can get involved in the debates and get a Few questioned answered by the candidates.
No, we haven't forgotten New Orleans. The post was spot on, and I think we should be writing at least to those 'so-called' leaders of the CBC to ask what THEY are doing on the New Orleans front.
Pundit - I accept the challenge. My first post on the Katrina tragedy went up tonight in response to your message. I encourage you to review it and comment as you see fit.
peace, Villager
Villager, I got a chance to read your new post. Thanks for providing your powerful insights on the New Orleans issue. Villagers can always count on you to set the tone for a discussion regarding our people. As bloggers, we all have many daily issues on our plate. Thank you for placing New Orleans on the front page of your plate today.
As you know first hand from your visits to New Orleans the challenge is great, it will take all of us villagers to make things right. There is however a disconnect in the village. A disconnect between the village and its political leadership.
I agree with fellow blogger Rikyrah, black bloggers haven't forgotten New Orleans. Yet, thousands of black bloggers donot discuss New Orleans. Thousands of black bloggers with gossip blogs, gossip on everything and don't address real issues of the day.
We, (I include myself) have in many ways, forgotten about New Orleans, because we don't really highlight the issue of why America has not rebuilt an American city. Even though American taxpayers through the congress are spending hundreds of Billions of American tax payer dollars to Bomb Iraq into the dark ages, and rebuild Iraq, with no bid contracts at the same time.
Our black Congressional leadership is a disgrace. No one is holding them accountable. There appears to be no fire in the belly of black political bloggers to hold the Congressional Black (FOX) Caucus accountable for anything. We have to get some fire in the belly. But hey, maybe we have just got too comfortable. What happen to the people of New Orleans could never happen to us.
Tavis Smiley and other black pain book peddlers are in bed with the CBC, so we should not be waiting for the best selling black pain writers to challenge anything, but the bill they receive when they stay at the Ritz Carlton, while they preach from city to city about the evils of white America, and how brothers and sisters need to get it together. As the royalty check comes in every month.
But hey, in two months, the conversation will turn to Katrina and its victims. Well at least for a few days, there will be HBO special reports in the News media.
Then it will be back to selling books, smiling on the campaign trail and voting for more war dollars for the Bush war on Iraq. With no black folks saying much of anything. No fire in the belly.
The Congress will receive another bill to fund the war for another 6 months. And the congressional (FOX) Black Caucus and its leadership will vote again, to support the war and the rebuilding of Iraq versus an American city.
But at least some Black bloggers within the village understand the importance of placing the discussion of New Orleans on the front pages of our blogs. Thank you Villager, Bronze T, Rikyrah and Angry Independent.
The bigger question is: "where is the black church and faith community in all of this mess?"
Where is Creflo, Jakes, and these other flossin', big pimpin' types with their Rolls Royces, private planes, and fab homes-all of which were purchased with church funds?
Think about it. Name one other institution in our community with greater NETWORK and RESOURCE CAPACITIES to (1) raise money, (2) identify those in need, and (3) administer aid to those in need?
The government can't do what the faith community network can do... and it shouldn't be expected to.
It's time to force this resource behemoth to get off its ass and do something.
-- Denise
Denise,
You hit the nail on the head!
That issue was truly going to be part of my next blog post. You placed the issue of those flossin', big pimpin' types in better context.
Denise said...
The bigger question is: "where is the black church and faith community in all of this mess?"
Where is Creflo, Jakes, and these other flossin', big pimpin' types with their Rolls Royces, private planes, and fab homes-all of which were purchased with church funds?
Tell me about it. What about the megachurches that were there, in Louisiana.
Their silence and non-activism just offend me and go to the heart of why I loathe the Prosperity Preaching Pimps.
African American Black Opinion tipped me to this blog
Pulpit Pimps
Relates to comments in this post.
Excuse me. I am a "Black Blogger" and I have been covering the DEATH IN NEW ORLEANS.....just not the type of DEATHS that you and others are inclined to want to talk about.
I have a blog entry about how last year of the 160 murders that occurred last year in the city only 3, THREE,TRES, III ....have been adjudicated thus far according to an interview seen on "Anderson Cooper 360"
(Blog Entry: http://withintheblackcommunity.blogspot.com/2007/06/unspoken-miscarriage-of-justice-within.html
Anderson Cooper Transscript: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/11/acd.01.html)
Could you or someone else tell me why some BLACK DEATHS serve as more POLITICAL FODDER than other BLACK DEATHS?
[quote]David, Do we not remember the pictures of the people left behind at the dome? Do you remember the pictures of the people who died on the New Orleans highway of death during those days in which no one From the Federal Government of State Government seemed to Care.[/quote]
African American Political Pundit - I have created a post that speaks to people like you.
http://withintheblackcommunity.blogspot.com/2007/06/logistics-of-hurricane-katrina.html
It is so easy for you to make the case that "they didn't care" or that "they weren't doing anything" because you have no clue as to the LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES that were faced after all of the foundational utilities and services that make up your current standard of living as an American are destroyed by storm and flooding.
As an outside critic you are a mere CONSUMER of their services, with no clue as to what they do and what they depend upon to provide responsive service to those in need. I take it that in your mind a big helicopter was to appear out of the sky and swoop everyone away in one trip? Tell me AAPP....where is the fuel for the helicopters? Do you know if the fueling depot was flooded or not? What was the state of the communications system for the entire city? How might this be reestablished if all was under water?
It is so easy for you to throw rocks simply because you only CONSUME the end results but have no idea about the mechanics that are behind the curtain.
These mechanics rendered a response for thousands of people in 4 days while people in Pakistan who had an earthquake and people in Sri Lanki who had floods were still left homeless (with no government hotel voucher) more than 4 months after their disaster.
Why is it also that you only focus on New Orleans when nearly the entire Gulf Coast was destroyed during that storm?
Wow! Constructive Feedback you have assumed a lot without knowing me.
" As an outside critic you are a mere CONSUMER of their services, with no clue as to what they do and what they depend upon to provide responsive service to those in need."
My work real job and real volunteer work has me in New Orleans every two weeks. I've been working in New Orleans for years. So... I'm not a mere CONSUMER.
"It is so easy for you to throw rocks simply because you only CONSUME the end results but have no idea about the mechanics that are behind the curtain."
Wrong again!
Why is it also that you only focus on New Orleans when nearly the entire Gulf Coast was destroyed during that storm?
Because that is what I want to blog about. Personal preference.
Why is it also that you only focus on New Orleans when nearly the entire Gulf Coast was destroyed during that storm?
Because that is what I want to blog about. Personal preference.
Interesting... That's my point it's your personal preference. Just because there are some that do not blog about NO does not mean that they don't care. They may rather blog about something else.
It's quite interesting to me this little box that we place black bloggers in. I'm black and I'm a blogger. But is the content of my blog the reflections of a black blogger? I'm so glad that I don't live within a box.
Food for thought.
[quote]Do we not remember the pictures of the people left behind at the dome? Do you remember the pictures of the people who died on the New Orleans highway of death during those days in which no one From the Federal Government of State Government seemed to Care.[/quote]
AAPP:
These are your words that are the focus of my post. I can state categorically based on my consulting work in supplying first responders from all areas of government with communications infrastructure that it was not "LACK OF 'CARE'" that was the problem in the response in New Orleans and other areas.
I said nothing about your volunteer work in New Orleans though it no doubt has been beneficial to the cause. The focus of my comments was the specific time interval between the initial impact of the storm/flooding and the time in which a comprehensive rescue was mounted. I can tell you that there were thousands of individuals from various entities working to recover from the blunt trauma upon the systems that they depend upon to offer the level of response that Americans are used to.
Imagine several thousand people dropped into a previously undeveloped forest and the views who are watching the situation on television expecting the same level of response despite the absence of transportation infrastructure, the communication systems, the presence of toxins, wild fires and a criminal element all working against them. Would you stil expect "911 Emergency" response levels in this situation?
Every entity that I have dealt with -both those who had direct impact from the storm or those from other areas of the country use Katrina/Rita as a reference for developing a second level of disaster recovery to back up their first level of D.R. when catastrophic events wipe out more of your infrastructure than was anticipated.
I have no problem with criticism. Valid criticism forces the target to do better next time. I do have a problem with UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS based on the gravity of the logistical challenges.
Sorry to tell you - having a different FEMA head, mayor, governor or president in place would have produced a SUBSTANTIALLY different result than what was seen. You have the benefit of imagination on your side to disagree with me on this point - they have the consequence of REALITY and LOGISTICS to deal with.
Now....about those DEATHS in New Orleans that have gone without judicial consequence?
Anderson Cooper Transcript: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/11/acd.0
Are these people any less valuable than those who have died due to the loss in infrastructure in New Orleans? Seems that the later group can blame their fate on slow recovery efforts by the government while the former can blame a fellow citizen for their death and thus there is not as much public outrage.
Regarding the increased death rate as reported in the USA Today - might this be evidence that the Pre-Katrina New Orleans though poor had a health care network that was far better than some Third World nation but after this network was largely destroyed the life expectancy for some people with congestive conditions fell far below the standard that it was because the network that propped them up higher than that of a Third World resident had been destroyed?
Many people will focus on the current void in the network. Few will stop to think about the great VALUE that the former network had - despite the fact that it was no doubt heavily criticized as being inferior.
"These are your words that are the focus of my post. I can state categorically based on my consulting work in supplying first responders from all areas of government with communications infrastructure that it was not "LACK OF 'CARE'" that was the problem in the response in New Orleans and other areas."
- Thats interesting, each sector of government, city, state and Federal agreed that they dropped the ball. Now you as a "consultant" say it was not a "lack of care."
I think I'm going to agree with each governmental body that indicated they failed to do the job in New Orleans. It truly was a lack of prudent care for the poor of New Orleans.
[quote]Do we not remember the pictures of the people left behind at the dome? Do you remember the pictures of the people who died on the New Orleans highway of death during those days in which no one From the Federal Government of State Government seemed to Care.[/quote]
- 99% of Americans watched the news, and looked at pictures on those days. That was my point. Do you remember the pictures.
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Friday, August 3, 2007
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1021 Convention Center Blvd.
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