President Bush at least acknowledged the race issue directly Monday as he toured New Orleans, saying “the storm didn’t discriminate and neither will the recovery effort. The rescue efforts were comprehensive. The recovery will be comprehensive.” But saying as much won’t be enough to make everybody believe it, which is why the nation needs to delve deeper into this divide.
After I took issue with Kanye West’s race-based criticism of the president on this blog, I heard from people suggesting West was only saying aloud what many African-Americans believe about the president generally and the reasons behind the pathetic federal response to Katrina specifically. As one reader said: “The truth was told. White people don’t want to hear the truth. Now you and the world can see it with your own eyes. What a shame.”
I still think the common denominator among those left waiting for help was not color but poverty; I cannot accept that in 2005, somebody in authority in Washington, D.C., would be slow to help those who are suffering because they are black. Then again, look at Darfur.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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