Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina is a reminder to us that all of life is connected. Decisions about going to war, about reducing social support and emergency services, about destroying protective wetlands and marshes, about disregarding the warnings... all these decisions have exacerbated the tragic impact of Katrina. Racism has been put front and center by both People of Color and white people as the major factor in how the hurricane affected residents of the Gulf States. Unfortunately and not surprisingly, many white folks, especially those in power, have categorically denied the importance of racism in this situation. Mainstream media dances around the issue and plays over and over again soundbites that help to cover up the issue.

Now is a good time for those of us who have an analysis of racism to use it to bring clarity to an event so rank with injustice. Over the coming weeks and months we will be linking you to voices from across the Gulf region, the nation, and beyond. Many of these voices you will not hear in mainstream media but it is our opinion they are the voices that bring truth and clarity to the situation. It is our hope that by hearing these voices and taking direction from those who truly know the situation best, we can take up our responsibility in striving for, and claiming an antiracist identity. For those of you on the Damascus Road email list, we encourage you to use the list to express your thoughts and opinions.

 

Resources

We've found the following resources helpful in thinking about this event in antiracist ways. As you read these and other articles, keep in mind some key questions:

• How are People of Color (individuals and communities) portrayed? White people?
• In what ways do white people receive power and privilege?
• How are people's identities being shaped by these events?
• Where do you see connections between race and class? How are the experiences of poor white people different than the experiences of poor People of Color?
• Who will benefit from reconstruction efforts?
• How are white-controlled institutions involved in these events (before, during and after the hurricane)?

 

Organizations and Current News Outlets

The People's Hurricane Relief Fund
A local, grassroots coalition in New Orleans initiated by Community-Labor United.

Common Ground Collective
A grassroots organization for immediate relief and justice.

Katrina Information Network
This site includes a collection of news and analysis articles as well as specific action items that anyone can participate in.

New America Media
This collection of articles and commentary on Katrina emphasizes race and racial groups.

News and Notes with Ed Gordon, National Public Radio
Various segments since late August of this daily NPR program have dealt with Hurricane Katrina and race. The site has brief descriptions of each segment, but no transcripts; the audio is available for streaming.

 

One Year After Katrina: Reports and Analyses

Compiled by Sharon Martinas, Challenging White Supremacy Workshop, , October, 2006

ACLU National Prison Project, “Abandoned and Abused: Orleans Parish Prisoners in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina.” (Aug. 2006)

Judith Browne Dianis and Jennifer Lai (Advancement Project), Marielena Hincapie (National Immigration Law Center), and Saket Soni (New Orleans Worker Justice Coalition), " And Injustice For All: Workers’ Lives in The Reconstruction of New Orleans." (July 2006)

Gulf Coast Reconstruction Watch, “One Year After Katrina: The State of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.” (Institute for Southern Studies, August, 2006). www.reconstructionwatch.org

Rita J. King, “Big, Easy Money: Disaster Profiteering on the American Gulf Coast.” (A CorpWatch Report. August 2006). www.corpwatch.org.

Eric Mann, “Katrina’s Legacy: White Racism and Black Reconstruction in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. (Los Angeles: Front Lines Press. 2006) www.frontlinespress.com.

Oxfam America, “Forgotten Communities, Unmet Promises: An Unfolding Tragedy in the Gulf Coast.” (August, 2006).

Manuel Pastor, Robert D. Bullard, James K. Boyce, Alice Fothergill, Rachel Morello-Frosch, and Beverly Wright, “In the Wake of the Storm: Environment, Disaster, and Race After Katrina.” (NY: Russell Sage Foundation, May, 2006).

Sue Sturgis, “Storm Cloud Over New Orleans: Is The Big Easy Ready for the Next Big Storm?” (June, 2006.) www.reconstructionwatch.org.

 

News and Analysis from Fall 2005 (immediately after the hurricane)