The Politics of Katrina

This past week a lot of pundits were suggesting that the sluggish response to the people of New Orleans was based on race. I would suggest it echoes the continuing story of the American Civil War. In many ways, America is still a battle of North vs South, rich vs poor. The poor always getting the short end of the stick, be it disaster relief or affordable housing.

The black population of New Orleans are victims of history.

For 300 years, the African American has been treated like a second class citizen in their own country; the post-Katrina rescue efforts only confirm this notion. Yet to suggest that if the hurricane struck north of the Mason-Dixon line, FEMA would have moved faster, and the White House would have acted sooner, is probably correct, but not because of race. It’s because of chauvinism. America is still fighting the Civil War, not on the ground, but in attitude and until the wounds of 1864 are healed, and clearly they’re not, it’s always going to be this way. The elite, privileged North determining what’s best for the South, who are mostly Black, poor and disenfranchised. As Bob Dylan once said, “I saw a black branch with blood that kept dripping”.

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.