Hurricane Kanye... err um... Katrina

Previously posted on Sept 8th, 2005 on another blog...

You know, I have been avoiding trying to say anything about the tragedy that hit our gulf coast recently, mainly because I did not want to sound like I didnt care or, as some would try to call me … a racist.

I really feel bad for those hit the hardest, the poor, however I get so angry when these people start blaming Bush or Whites for their problems. I get even angrier when I hear some community leaders or religious leaders such as Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton spewing the same old rhetoric that we don’t care about the Blacks down south, we push them aside in times of disasters and those who are rich and white get preferential treatment.

I get even more angry and my blood starts to boil when some civic leaders excuse the looting of “luxury” items such as plasma television sets, computers, other electronics and furniture, saying that its because they have been “held down” or oppressed these people are “getting back at society” for the injustices of the government.

Rap artist Kanye West went off script at a fundraiser to spew his political rhetoric, blaming Bush and the government saying of televised events and journalist quoting… “When whites take things from the stores its survival and when blacks do it its seen as looting”.

I don’t believe I saw or heard any news reporters doing this but capturing on camera people doing both looting for survival, thus only taking food and water and things used to keep them safe, and others taking advantage of the situation, arming themselves to the hilt and stealing electronics and luxury items.

There is a difference in stealing for survival and stealing because you can for the hell of it...

You know something... the ones doing most of the whining and complaining aren't even poor... aren't or weren't even living in New Orleans, a few maybe came from there once upon a time... but its not really coming from the actual people stuck there or those who refuse to leave from there...

One thing I have admired Bill Cosby lately for is his speeches of telling Blacks that they need to stop blaming society, blaming whitey for their demise. That the ONLY people holding them back are themselves.I completely agree with him in that there are more opportunities for minorities, namely Blacks, to get ahead now than there ever was before. There are special training programs specifically geared to help minorities get jobs. There are tons more scholarships and grants specifically for minorities, not to mention schools for Blacks or minorities only.

Now I don’t mind that they have these opportunities, and actually encourage it as everyone has the right to good education and a fair shake in life. But to keep blaming us for their own faults and downfalls is an insult, not just to Whites or the government but to the many people and organizations who offer these opportunities to them.

Stop blaming others that you didn’t leave when you should have. Stop blaming us for your lack of education…And… Its no ones fault but your own to stay in a place where it is dangerous!

Thousands of others have gotten out, so for you to not do it is your own damn fault and complete stupidity, plain ignorance that keeps you back looking for more electronics to thieve or turfs to control.

When hurricanes ripped through Florida last year and left thousands homeless and destitute, no one whined that the government wasn’t acting fast enough, though many of the people who lost homes were also black, Hispanic, Cuban, Haitian…etc. so why, in New Orleans are they calling foul? Blacks are NOT the only ones to lose their homes or live in poverty in New Orleans, there are also Mexicans and whites as well who live way below the poverty level…

Dr. Boyce Watkins, professor and author of several books to help minorities with getting higher education, wrote a book last year called, "What if George Bush were a Black Man"... has jumped on the blame the Bush administration and whitey bandwagon. He also goes further to EXCUSE the looting of luxuary items as a release for their oppression... (I wonder how much he donated to the poor and oppressed?)

Hey Kanye… how much did you donate to the relief fund?

Celebrities such as Hillary Duff, a teenager donated 250,000, Celine Dion gave a Million, Ellen Degeneres donated 1.5 mil, others donated a few hundred thousand to a couple million… Even Kuwait is giving us 500 mil…

So Kanye… you did a telethon to help raise money for the victims of the hurricane… you know ask people like the poor blacks to give a few dollars where they can, a few whites give a few dollars here and there… see you expect the average Joe to give up money… where’s your part? We haven’t read anywhere where you gave… but… time and criticism?

GET OFF OUR ASS KANYE and DR. Watkins! I don’t owe you a thing... I don’t owe society a thing… and I will help when I can, not out of any guilt, not because I have to, but because I want too… Like we did today... in the way of donating clothes, canned foods, water and blankets. And I do this while paying for my own education! I do it knowing I have to pay back the student loans once I get my degree... and I do it without the privilage of getting special scholarships and grants designed for only certain people...

The only person holding anyone back is those making excuses for their problems instead of helping them get up and work hard for it like anyone else can and does. NO ONE is pointing a gun at their heads and telling them they have to live in poverty and ignorance.

By the way Kanye, DR Boyce Watkins… here where I live is majority white… we have several truck loads, I’d say at least 100, of food, water, clothes, blankets, toys, personal products, toilet paper… you name it its on there… for the victims… so much for not caring huh?