(The above picture is of Bernadette Washington and her 3-month-old daughter, who were stuck on top their roof for three days.)
Washington D.C. is a predominantly African-American city, sometimes called Chocolate City by the inhabitants for that reason. A lot of the poor folks in that city are black, though there are rich black communities across the border in Maryland's Prince George's County. I've never been to New Orleans, but heard 75 percent of the population there is black. And most of the people left behind in the city after the hurricane are those without means to have escaped. The Washington Post has an incredible front-page article describing the plight of one black family that endured (and is enduring) the disaster. From the Post article:
When the hurricane hit, Thomas, a truck driver, said he came home from work, looked at every one of the people he loves, and stood in the middle of the living room. Thinking. He's the Socrates in the family — but time was running out.Some notable quotes from the father and mother of the family:
"I only got a five-passenger car," he said.
"Chevy Cavalier," said his wife.
"And," Thomas continued, "I stood there, thinking. I said, 'Okay, it's 50-50 if the water will get through.' "
Within hours the water rose, and it kept rising.
"But then I said, 'If we do take the car, some of us would be sitting on one another's laps.' And the state troopers were talking about making arrests."
Instead, he pushed the kids out a window. They scooted to the roof, some pulling themselves up with an extension cord.
"The rain was pouring down so hard," Washington said. "And we had a 3-month-old and a 2-year-old."
"To me," said Bernadette Washington, "it just seems like black people are marked. We have so many troubles and problems."
"It says [my note: I believe she's talking about the Bible and the "End Times"] there'll come a time you can't hide. I'm talking about people. From each other."
Says Thomas, the husband, "God's angry with New Orleans. It's an evil city. The worst school system anywhere. Rampant crime. Corrupt politicians. A predominantly black city — and they're killing each other. God had to get their attention with a calamity. New Orleans ain't seen an earthquake yet. You can get away from a hurricane but not an earthquake. Next time, nobody may get out."
1 comment:
Maybe it is not God's judgement, butbut another testament to man’s arrogance...
http://ask.yahoo.com/20041005.html
Tuesday October 5, 2004
Why isn't New Orleans under water since it's below sea level?
Strange, but true: the Big Easy is, on average, eight feet below sea level. Tall levees to the north and south keep the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain from pouring into the center of the city. And an intricate system of pumping stations and canals keep the land dry, even after heavy rainfall.
Without this drainage system, much of the city would be engulfed in water. New Orleans occupies swampland created by millions of years' worth of silt deposits from the Mississippi River. As a result, the ground is wet and spongy, and prone to flooding from rainfall and hurricanes.
Ironically, all the pumps, canals, and levees that work so hard to keep New Orleans above water are actually causing the city to sink at a rate of three feet per century. Some scientists predict that by the year 2100, the "City That Care Forgot" will be under water. Does New Orleans have a deep-sea Mardi Gras in its future? Scuba gear or not, it's interesting to ponder.
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