Anyone else notice almost all the people stranded in NO are black?

[Seabiscuit]

Every image I see on TV of people stranded on rooftops or being rescued in NO or of people at the Superdome shows poor African-Americans. Once in a while an elderly white man or woman shows up, but rarely.

I get the impression these poor people never had a chance - they were too poor or infirm to leave before Katrina hit.

[DURHAM D]

1. As regards leaving - only 20% of the people who live in

NO have access to private transportation (cars).

[GumboYaYa]

9. Yep, New Orleans is a very walkable city.

Even people who could afford cars frequently will not have them simply b/c you don't need one.

[tx_dem41]

14. Please back that up.....I lived there for 17 years...family still does...

this stat is absurd. Please back it up.

[Telly Savalas]

17. I saw someone cite that elsewhere here.

Maybe they got it backwards, 80% have cars 20% don't. Does that sound like a reasonable estimate? Or do even more have cars? Just askin'. I've never been to NOLA.

[DURHAM D]

18. I heard it on the tv (MSNBC) on Sunday and thought that could not

possibly be correct. In fact, I though he meant 20% did not have access to cars and had reversed the facts. So, I called a friend who lived there until recently. My friend said that the stat was probably correct. He also explained the levels of poverty that exist in the area and how I could not possibly actually comprehend the grinding effect of same.

Anyway, about an hour later I heard the same fact on another tv station - probably CNN. I was busy painting my living room and both times just stopped to reflect on what a big giant problem that was going to be - this was Sunday.

[DURHAM D]

22. I see you are still angry. eom

[Serial Mom]

2. Had no cars also ... no place to go either

:cry: for all those poor people!

[NYC]

3. Yes, I noticed.

Why the delay in rescuing them?

[Seabiscuit]

8. Because they vote Dem?

[NYC]

32. And don't make large contributions to the G.O.P.

Expendable.

[Sequoia]

4. "We told you to get out, we warned, we begged"

and now we have to resuce you.

Hearing this on the press conferences. It's the damn levee that broke that made it so bad.

[tjdee]

5. Also, NO is heavily black to start. But of course wealthy people got out.

The wealthy black people are probably gone too.

(on edit: I should say wealth-ier. Not everyone is a Bush, and when we start feeling the heat from those people, who can't afford to stay in a hotel indefinitely...)

[msongs]

6. NO population almost 70% black, could that be one reason why?

http://neworleans.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm

Msongs

[Xtreme]

7. God stop trying to turn this into a racism issue!

Most people of the inner city of NO ARE BLACK!

Geez!

[Seabiscuit]

13. Racism??? I don't think so, Tim. It's a poverty issue.

The ones that got out before the storm had the money to do so.

[tx_dem41]

31. My mistake...I could have sworn your title said "black".

Or do you automatically assume African-Americans are poor?

[Seabiscuit]

33. What

just crawled up your arse and died?

[tx_dem41]

34. Someone changing boats in midstream. n/t

[malaise]

15. I've seen white people suffering as well

and over in Biloxi it's poor white people. It's always the poor. Fugg Bush. Fugg everyone who exposed these people to this catastrophe.
The CBS report is very good - rage and more rage.

[Sanity Claws]

10. More Americans are in poverty than before * took over

Earlier this week, it was announced that 12.7% of all Americans are below the poverty level. In New Orleans, the number is supposed to be over 20%. All those poor people had no way to get out. There was no organized effort to help people without private vehicles to leave.

[tx_dem41]

11. Please check the demographics of the city.

Also, I saw several interviews with white survivors today.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

26. It true that close to 70% of NO residents are black.

Most of America didn't realize the fact.

I understand for them how this could seem like a disproportionate amount of black people in the shelters. Actually it's just representative of the demographics.

[tx_dem41]

28. I wonder why most people don't realize that.

Its tough for me to answer because I'm from there.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

29. Most people live in their own little part of the world

If you've never been to or researched another city it's hard to really understand it.

Also, I think most of the media attention that NO gets is during Mardi Gras. Maybe everyone thought the population was mostly bare chested college girls. :crazy:

[tx_dem41]

30. I could only wish. LOL n/t

[CBGLuthier]

12. 67.25% of population black as of 2000 census

I have seen more than a few white folks too. Poverty doesn't discriminate.

[KoKo]

16. But...DU'ers have posted statistics that NO is 67% African-American?

If you looked at any population there will always be "those who struggle below and just on the "poverty level."

But, if you are saying that the M$M is Capitalizing on Pics of Black Folk looters...then I get where you are coming from.

If they could find a way to blame Italian, Irish or Asian Immigrants...they would focus on them too. Just pick the part of the country that has a "disaster" and Blitzer and other media whores will be out there blaming it on "Immigrants" whether it's NEW or OLD.

I want to know where the hell, Blitzer came from that he's so arrogant and where the rest of CNBC Producers who put out the "Video Cuts" that just focus on the QUOTE: "looters" ...comes from

Why the hell aren't American Viewers entitled to know that Wolf Blitzer just might have a HUGE bias in his role as CNN's THREE HOUR SPOKESPERSON?

Huh....Huh.. What is Blitzer's Background? Is it his "producers" or HIM as the MEDIA STAR that gets to decide WHAT is reported. :shrug:

Inquiring Minds would sure like to know...

[Seabiscuit]

19. Yes, the looters being shown on TV are exclusively black. And no wonder

since almost all those stranded in NO *are* black - apparently those already impoverished.

I saw an estimate that there were 50K-100K people stranded in NO after the storm passed. In a population of 500K, that's about 10%-20%.

Which corresponds to the poverty level in NO before the storm. The vast majority who live below that level in NO are black.

I wish they'd quit showing so many pictures of the looters - if anything's become racist about this tragedy, the media's slection of pictures of looting is.

[msongs]

21. umm I have seen whities "shopping" pics as well nt

[Seabiscuit]

23. I haven't.

[msongs]

20. NO majority is probably christian, but they do not say xtian looters

edit - or male looters for that matter. seems to be equal opportunity for blame here

[Seabiscuit]

24. Yeah, why not call them Xtian Male looters???

[tx_dem41]

25. Do they say "black looters"? n/t

[Rainscents]

27. I seen white folks who is homeless... one young man was interviewed

after Bush's speech (reporter told him about Bush's speech), young man was VERY angry at Bush for NOT coming through for them from day 1. I also seen older woman (white) being interviewed and she was NOT a happy camper with Bush either!

[Mr_Spock]

35. Ya' know, this is just a "DUH" post!

What the heck would someone expect - unless they know nothing about NO, cities in general and poverty...

[growlypants]

36. all the whites high tailed it outta town

[faithnotgreed]

37. laura flanders on aar just now: race and class are at the center

of this tragedy

you got that right
bush doesnt want to help anyone except those with money