everybody gotta hate on something
And today I am going to hate on the media telling me about race issues in my city. Did y’all see this article that seems to be everywhere today? I tend to look at the world through my rose tinted, super sparkly plastic sunglasses, but this shit fills me with rage.
I am done with Katrina as a black/white issue. I am done with the recovery as a black/white issue. I thought others were, too. And I really hate when the articles talk about ‘white neighborhoods’ and ‘black neighborhoods’ because I want to see the map that has these neighborhoods on it. White people live in the lower ninth ward. Black people live uptown. I think I have to stop reading the paper for a while, maybe, so that I can simmer down a bit.
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When I read this, I kept thinking that they were really struggling to make this a race issue at all. In the end, all I got out of the story was that the people who put more effort into pursuing the insurance companies to pay up got more money. But then, after thinking about it a minute, it seems that what the TP is really saying is that poor black people are lazy; is that they gave up because it got too disappointing. Is that what they’re saying? That can’t be right, so I read it again, and then I saw something that didn’t really click with me the first time. This quote from Alan Jenkins: “”The promise of opportunity isn’t equally available,” which completely contradicts the entire rest of the story. The way I see it, he’s completely wrong in that statement. The opportunity is equally available, but a certain demographic chose to accept what they were given and another demographic used the opportunity available to fulfill the promise.
Look, if I’m willing to take what I’m given, then I get what I’m given - that’s my choice. If I’m unaware that there is more that can be done, is that really any different than not knowing the speed limit and getting a speeding ticket? I don’t think it is different; either way, I have to suffer the repercussions. And finally, if I don’t trust the people and organizations that are there to help me, then I’ve got other issues entirely and should probably seek counciling.
Am I the only one who’s getting tired of being expected to feel sorry for people who don’t appear to be doing much at all to help themselves? Am I the only one who is repeatedly told, when I voice these opinions, that I don’t understand? Told that it’s a cultural difference? Told that I’m mean, or unsympathetic? And most hurtful of all, called a republican? And its getting to the point now, that I’m tired of feeling guilty for not feeling sorry for people who aren’t worthy of pity. And getting progressively more angry at the media, and some people I know, using these people that I refuse to feel sorry for as the example for an enire race or demographic of people. Who is the racist? Is it me? Am I a cold, heartless, angry person with no compassion for my fellow human beings and the struggles and suffering they endure? I don’t fucking think so. I reserve my pity and sympathy for those who fight the good fight to the bitter end and lose anyway; to those who’ve walked every trail and stood thier ground in the face of impossible odds and got beat down. I will not waste it on those who gave up in the heat of battle because it was easier.
Jack, I think we may be in agreement.
My point is that this is in no way a race issue - it is an issue that is interlinked with poverty, empowerment, tenacity, and drive. I don’t see how these elements equate to race. The article used research that was based on zip codes and what color people tend to live in those zip codes - there is no science to back up the race claim whatsoever.
I just don’t understand why race has to be dragged into it every time. I feel like NOLA is perpetually accused of racism when it is mostly the media that are the racists.
Yes, we are in agreement - this time….
Dude, all french people are lazy by nature, but don’t let it fool you.
Laurie acadian french