How black Americans (not political sell-outs) view the Katrina response

[qanda]

This is from a black community on the web that has a forum to comment on current events. I just want to show you a few of their comments so that you can see that black Americans are not buying what the Bush administration is shoveling. However, Democrats better wake up and take notice that the party, by their inaction, is losing the hope, faith and trust of black Americans.

These comments are from a thread which discusses Bishop Jakes' appearance with Bush:

I watched with fascination yesterday TD Jakes' interview with a CNN reporter. This buck and shuffle negro sat there and beep-bopped and skipped all around the reporter's assertion that the president, government, and FEMA's slow response to and rescue of the New Orleans citizens was racial. He would not for the life of him admit that this could even remotely be the case. He kept saying he didn't want to make any assumptions. Well just dayum! You've had 5-6 days of footage, thousands of sound bites, and endless press and televisions reports that the majority of the people left behind in New Orleans were black. No assumptions here. You're working with current and sound information. Now this morning I'm watching CNN and this pimp ass Amos and Andy is getting ready to join the president in Baton Rouge. I certainly hope it's not to represent the Black race. I always thought this man was a sham but now I'm irreversibly convinced.

___________________

Its all good.....now we can see the true colors of a lot of people. Thats why you shouldnt put your leadership in the hands of people who claim they understand God better than you do. They are the people who will always let you down first. These pimps, i mean preachers are not worth a damn, they may talk a good word when it comes to the bible, but when it comes to real life they always follow the chain thats pulls them. They dont want to critize the president or the government because they are thinking about the money in the future that they are going to receive. I hope we as black people are taking notes and remember who was really on ourside. If this is not a wake up call for us to come together, i dont know what else it will take. It doesnt matter if you are rich or poor, all black people will be effected by this.

______________________

Rescue them with the same speed and tenacity they do when a baby falls in a well or a white man decides he wanna go climb a big dangerous mountain and gets stuck or trapped in a cave. That is how it works in a civilized society or should anyway!


________________________

A black Republican speaks:

I voted for him twice and am so disappointed with GWB and the other people who let this happen. I'm black and it makes me very sad that lots of the victims are black too.

_______________________

...you should know better. Jakes didn't use the race card, as the race hustlers have, because there's no validity to the charge. The Federal Government failed the entire Gulf Coast not just new Orleans. Louisiana is a RED state. They voted for bush. Why in the hell would Bush want to take a chance at losing two RED states like Mississippi and Louisana? I expected more of you. You know that race card is just about played out.

(Hey, there's always a few!)

_______________________

(And, a response...)

I respect your opinion and your well delivered remarks. It is quite obvious that the majority population of NO is black. The issue is, these Black folks were left to fend for themselves in a seriously dangerous situation. Not for a day or two. But for 5-6 days! You and TD Jakes have got to be smart enough to at least recognize that much and that if they were white they would have been saved much sooner. And judging from your well-appointed remarks, it's safe to say that your are intelligent enough to know that the calvary should have been on the way long before they were. If we can get resources to the tsunami victims 10,000 miles away, what is the problem with getting the same resources out to the people of our homeland? I said it before and I'm saying it again, if those folks were white the story would have unfolded much differently.

_______________________

There are many more, but I will end with an email that I received from my black Republican brother-in-law (names have been removed to protect privacy):

With respect to the tragedy and despair on the Gulf Coast, I concur with everyone....the Federal Government has failed. To think that we can send troops over to Iraq on a dime, yet take days to get food, water, and resources to New Orleans, Mississippi, and the likes is absolutely ridiculous.

We all know why the aid was delayed. Had the masses been of the majority race, they would have had aid right away. It sickens me to see people dying simply because they look like us. The director of FEMA should have been fired the first day. We knew the hurricane was coming, yet we did nothing!!

Wife and I attended a wedding today for a 26 year old young lady who worked on my staff a few years ago. Her sister is a freshman at a University in New Orleans. When the hurricane hit, the young sister was preparing to come home for the wedding. After the hurricane, her parents could not get in touch with her. The lady getting married was going to call off the wedding. Their dad, however, got on a plane (after calling the state department and others in government for assistance) and flew to Dallas Texas. From there he rented a car and drove to a University where his daughter and a few others were taken after being rescued. She arrived home last night in time for the wedding today.

This is a family of color (they are from Trinidad). The interesting thing about all of this is that the government did not rescue her. Her dad, a republican, said to me at the reception today that he had more respect for Jesse Jackson now, than ever before. That's right, it was Jesse Jackson who organized buses to go in and get her and other college students out. What a story!

[qanda]

1. kick

[meganmonkey]

2. Interesting read

Thanks for posting...

I read about the Jesse Jackson bus thing in a couple articles today - he chartered some buses and picked people up from the airport, where thousands of folks were waiting, and found a shelter about 90 miles away (I think) that had beds for everyone...

[Tatiana]

3. Not many people know Jesse sent buses down there to evacuate people.

I'm so tired of debating and arguing over this. In my heart, I know that race played a part in the government's response. Yes, class had to do with the people who did not evacuate... people who were stranded and had nowhere else to go. But race played a part in the response.

If NO was 80% poor white people living in trailers, FEMA would have been on the scene no less than 1-2 days after the hurricane passed.

[pitohui]

23. they abandoned jeff & st bernard parish, didn't they

it is patently untrue that new orleans was abandoned because it's majority black, they abandoned white areas also

st. bernard & jefferson parishes were abandoned, the sheriff of st. bernard says they got no aid at all except for canadians and some fish & wildlife guys, nothing from fema at all

jeff parish & st tammany parish are actually reporting that fema was attempting to take their equipment, the white mayor of slidell, which is st. tammany, has threatened to shoot fema officials who try to take any more, st. tammany is overwhelmingly republican & white

i think it's clear bushco doesn't give a damn abt anyone in the south, black or white, he would be happy if we all died so he wouldn't have the expense in his next budget of relocating everyone

it's abt color, but the color is green

in response to this quote: If NO was 80% poor white people living in trailers, FEMA would have been on the scene no less than 1-2 days after the hurricane passed.

[NYC]

4. Thank you for posting these

opinions, observations, and stories. It's good to know that most people see the truth. The White House and Homeland Security are spinning as much as they can, but I don't believe it will work. I think most people understand what went on.

[MisterP]

5. but they're saying cowardice is NOT the best political option!

how dare they?! :crazy:
Gore and Jackson are evaccing hundreds, while St. Joe, who's been apotheotized in the past few days by the unthinking for his brave stance in not ever criticizing a con in the past six years until gas prices rose, just demands a new Whitewash Committee

[qanda]

6. kick

[MrBenchley]

7. This is the GOP's Southern Strategy in its malignant glory

Remember when Chimpy went to Bob Jones U and then wouldn't release a record of what he said there?

Now we know...he promised them he'd kill thousands of dead black people...

[FrenchieCat]

8. Also, this.....

Yesterday, I attended Church (as I do every Sunday), and I am happy to report that our Pastor, Dr. J. Alfred E. Smith Sr., one of the most prominent Black Pastors in Oakland, is co-organizing a massive contribution Rally next Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum.
http://www.allen-temple.org /
http://www.jalfredsmithsr-ministries.org/Articles.htm

We Expect thousands to show up!

In addition, a Press Conference was held this past Saturday in where our local Black Pastors discussed their reactions to Hurricane Katrina, the Feds' response, and the help needed for the citizens/survivors/victims of this disaster.

I am proud to say that my husband is one of the church Deacons and the personal assistant to the pastor and was on hand at the press conference. Of course, this is also Rep. Barbara Lee's church!

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/09/04/news/state/2...

Bay Area churches organize hurricane relief
By: JUSTIN M. NORTON - Associated Press

OAKLAND -- With impassioned prayers and angry speeches, a coalition of black religious leaders on Saturday began coordinating a regional relief effort for Hurricane Katrina victims -- a group many said were abandoned by the government because they are predominantly poor blacks.

"I believe that after the storm comes the resurrection," said Reginald W. Lyles, 55, a deacon at Allen Temple Baptist Church, where the group met. "But I would like to say one thing -- we are not refugees. We're American citizens, taxpaying good citizens of the city of New Orleans."

The group, from Christian churches throughout the San Francisco Bay area, called for relief drives within black churches and the black community to assist victims, announced a fund to be administered by Bank of the West and pleaded for churchgoers with medical expertise to volunteer.

"We can replace things, but we can't replace life," said Bishop Joseph E. Simmons of St. Paul Baptist Church in Oakland. "This is about how we can help someone because we're only one earthquake away from being in the same place."

"When you talk to Bay Area people about New Orleans you're talking about their mothers and uncles and cousins and you're talking about the people who mentored them," said J. Alfred Smith Sr., senior pastor of Allen Temple Baptist. "The blood is as thick between us and New Orleans as it is between American Jews and Israel."

Many said they were incredulous with how late federal aid arrived in New Orleans and how some news organizations referred to blacks taking necessities as looters while whites seen taking similar items were trying to provide for their families.

"I ask you -- how can you loot a wet TV?" asked Lyles, a former police officer. "It's all junk now."

Another Article generated by the Press Conference:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_2998498

I welcome your participation and responses in a similar thread over at GDP.
on edit broken link repaired! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2064494

[qanda]

10. That's wonderful

Be sure to post this is CatWoman's thread about Black clergy.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Give me a link!

No search capabilities available! :(

[qanda]

14. Sorry about that

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4647489

[FrenchieCat]

17. Done!

this response is also for a "kick"

[qanda]

11. The link on your thread to GDP is broken

[FrenchieCat]

12. Thanks!

:hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2064494

[bobbieinok]

34. thank you very much for this info...in OK I see many young blacks

in pentecostal and other churches being told that Christians can only vote republican because only republicans are Christian

Carlton Pearson (black minister of Higher Dimensions and a leader in the Azuza Street organization) of Tulsa said in 2004 something like 'I've always voted republican and it hasn't hurt me'

[bobbieinok]

35. and all this will of course be broadcast on TBN and CBN (sarcasm)

[Fleshdancer]

9. By far the best line I've read in a long time:

"Thats why you shouldnt put your leadership in the hands of people who claim they understand God better than you do. They are the people who will always let you down first."

----

I'm going to use that one.

[Cha]

27. Reminds me of what

Richard Gere said before the 2004 election..

"If I've learned one thing it's.. don't trust anyone who says God is only on their side..especially if he's the president(sic) of The United States!"

[Chovexani]

15. Let me tell you about that greedy fuck TD Jakes

My mom goes to a well-known black megachurch here in NYC, and the pastor was holding some kind of "men's conference" and invited TD Jakes to speak at it. Jakes agreed but only if he was allowed to fly in by private jet and be put up at the freaking Waldorf-Astoria! One thing I will say for my mom's pastor, he politely told Jakes to go to fuck himself and recinded the invite.

The man is nothing more than a GodPimp, just like the aptly named Creflo Dollar and the rest of those greedy SOBs that make their living off the backs of their congregations. Shit like that is why Ieft the church.

Speaking of my mom's pastor, misogynist Repuke asshole that he is (AR Bernard, he's on satellite and is always speaking at Promise Keeper rallies), he had a meeting with the other local black preachers the other day and was apparently livid at the lack of response from ShrubCo. I think a lot of black Repukes, particularly black fundies who have been whoring themselves for faith-based money, have gotten a rude awakening with this mess in New Orleans. They have found out a black can kiss neocon ass as much as he wants to, ultimately he is just another worthless negro to them.

[bobbieinok]

37. in Tulsa B&Noble, Jakes has his own stand....+ table with Joyce Meyers

etc

[ariesgem]

16. Could you PM a link to the forum to me?

I've been looking for a AA community forums like this to participate in but most of the ones I know of have been raided by freepers.

[qanda]

18. This one has been raided by freepers also

However, it's a joy to see them get smacked down time and time again. I truly believe there is some type of psy ops to infilitrate websites and make it seem like there are more Bushbots than actually exist. I haven't met many black people who are still taking up for Bush.

I will pm you the link though.

[slor]

21. PM me too please!

[qanda]

22. No problem

[Window]

32. Please, please, pretty please

PM me the link also. The AA place I frequent is working my last nerve. Thanks.

Peace

[qanda]

38. It may be the same one

I didn't want to give out the link publicly because I'm afraid of freeping lurkers going over there to stir up trouble. I will pm you the link and if it's not the same then send me the one you have also. thanks

[qanda]

19. kick

[slor]

20. What website is this?

I am a African American, and I would like to post there.

[Garbo 2004]

24. One writer went along with Maxine Waters, Jackson and others

to bus people out of NOLA and try to get a closed Air Force base open for evacuees. It's in Salon, but nonsubscribers can read after seeing ads as I understand:

Gimme shelter
Trying to force authorities to open an Air Force base as a shelter, Jesse Jackson and other black leaders picked up 150 evacuees at the squalid New Orleans Airport and headed into the night. http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/09/04/bus/index.html

[Cha]

25. Thank you for this, quanda!

I love this one because the poster is very respectful while driving home his/her Point!

"I respect your opinion and your well delivered remarks. It is quite obvious that the majority population of NO is black. The issue is, these Black folks were left to fend for themselves in a seriously dangerous situation. Not for a day or two. But for 5-6 days! You and TD Jakes have got to be smart enough to at least recognize that much and that if they were white they would have been saved much sooner. And judging from your well-appointed remarks, it's safe to say that your are intelligent enough to know that the calvary should have been on the way long before they were. If we can get resources to the tsunami victims 10,000 miles away, what is the problem with getting the same resources out to the people of our homeland? I said it before and I'm saying it again, if those folks were white the story would have unfolded much differently."

Knowing the bushwa like I do for the last 5 years..I'm thinking right now that they did this for revenge.

New York City still hasn't gotten the rest of the $20Billion, yet, and they are BLUE, too.

If this were Terry Schiavo..bush would have cancelled his photo ops for an even better one.

I feel no rancor for Terry Schiavo(in fact, the opposite)..just the mess that the toady fundies made of it.

[linazelle]

26. This should be sent to the media. n/t

[Miss Chybil]

28. Everybody keeps saying Michael Brown and FEMA did nothing.

He worked VERY hard doing press conferences and keeping rescuers at bay. Give the man a break!

/sarcasm

[ananda]

29. Yes, Brown and FEMA..

.. did everything possible to make relief not happen and still are.

I read that today they turned back generators.. who knows what else.

This is pure evil.. so evil I can't even begin to describe or fathom my own outrage.

Sue

[BronxBoy]

30. What board was this

I'd be interested in going there.

PM me if you like

[Brewman_Jax]

31. kick

:kick:

[misscoko34]

33. here is another story from a survivor...pm me also with that site

This is in response of a non-believing negro about racism playing a part in the evacuation effort. and for the record I also believe the government failed everyone down there white and black among others. Here is what this lady said to that uncle tom!


Okay that's what you think.I will tell you WHAT I KNOW. I manage to hictch a ride to Beumont from there my Mom came to get me. I had transportation but someone sipped the gas out of my truck. Around two hours later the first levee breeched. With water up it continue to rise . My grandma is really sick she's a patient that has to intubated and various other illness and the doctor strongly suggested that she stay and we knew it would flood but I can deal with. When the first levee breeched we started to leave the homes. A restaurant owner there in the garden district had a swamp buggy boat. It's know fault that's mother-nature and she's unpredictable. Your are also correct about the supply routing time but 4 days .The bad part was that we could of had supplies. I have a relative that help with scheduling and routing of non-perishable foods and hydrating liquids for the Red Cross in Alexandria and Salvation Army of Shreveport . He said that three trucks were rerouted because officials said that the responsible party and supplies were not secure. How could that be with two Desoto parish sheriffs cars leading the convoy. I am so numb to everything I can't even cry,literally. I still can't eat solid foods because of state of anxiety. To see infant babies die because they can't get water that's not human beside that ayoung lady had a baby in the dome and the baby died and she went into toxic shock because infection and also died. We had to endure sleeping with filth and dead people by early early thursday morning the floor had trashed and bodies. One man said it reminded him of vietnam. We had to wait on troops because they were the only supplies aloud in. When they did come Wednsday evening they didn't have any supplies just there weapons. It was THURSDAY 4 whole days before aid came. That's more than 48 hrs. Yes there were majority black and the senseless looting was just I can't understand. When they should have got survival s**t and things others could have used. Being that we didn't know when we would have lights and water they went chaotic and it's just put a hole in MY SOUL. . I feel that I will never be able to rehabilitate from this. I still can't sleep because I'm still in that cut-throat stage and all I want is my piece of mind back and I don't see that happening. What upsets me is the the bias azz media coverage. There was more than blacks looting there were alot of whites getting S**t too. I saw them( they always were in groups of at least of 90) Go in CVS pharmacy and get perscribed medicine and a white group of white herion addicts went in Delgado Md. Ctr. claiming they needed refuge looted them of numerous valvues of Methadone and brought it back with them. What really bothers me is the children were exposed to all this S**t. I mean I could go on and on and on but they didn't televised that and they were around the same place the same time . Here it is Sunday morning and people are still there and it's places that they didn't go such as St. Augustine school and a Korean Methodist church and others that know about. The last bus loads into Houston were buses that randomly came not the evacuation crew just people with hearts. They clearly don't give a f**k. When troops are proped against the f***ing wall while an elderly man go into a diabetic coma and DIE and didn't lift a finger. This S**t makes me so mad. I can't write anymore

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[qanda]

36. I'll send you the link, but you have to have a few more posts first

I'll check back a little later to see if it works.

BTW, Welcome to DU

[milkyway]

39. Great line: "They always follow the chain that pulls them."

Applies to a lot of white Americans also.

[checks-n-balances]

40. BTW, TD Jakes is coming up next on Tucker Carlson's 'Situation'

That should be interesting....