Hurricane Katrina & The Jena 6 (week 10)

3/9/2015

Describe the social, political, and economic issues associated with Hurricane Katrina and the Jena 6 (two major themes). Make connections between both stories and how they relate to what you've read. Lastly, visit this link. Choose one of the organizations that are working for racial and economic justice. Learn about what they do and describe their mission and impact in your own words.

Develop a 250 word original post by Friday and respond to another student by Sunday. Your original post should include an overview of what you read in Sister Citizen and other texts, an analysis of the two major themes from the reading a conclusion that asks critical thinking questions (open ended questions about the subject matter). These questions will be the prompt to other students to respond to you. Watch the video below to add context to the reading.

18 Comments

Andre Mouton

3/11/2015 06:46:17 am

The social, political, and economic issues that occurred with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Jena 6 are so connected to the reading that our African political science call has been studying. Before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans it was already known that the old levies were not able to withstand a category 4 hurricane according to “Pittman Construction, told the Corps that the soil and the foundation for the walls were “not of sufficient strength, rigidity and stability” to build on”. (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9532037/ns/nbc_nightly_news_with_brian_williams-nbc_news_investigates/t/new-orleans-levee-reported-weak-s/#.VQCdYXzF-So).
What appears to be a refusal to correct an infrastructure problem by officials has lead me to believe that the lives in black communities were in danger in New Orleans and if the levees were to fail it would only impact black and poor communities. The social, political and economic decision not to spend the necessary money to correct a potential catastrophe is major reason for the lives of hundreds of innocent people.
When you read the article in our reader by Allan M. Brandt “The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis study” you learn how Katrina and African American lives were taken as an experiment. Most notably in the Video of Katrina you saw thousands of people fleeing for their lives with no food, water or hospital facilities and nowhere to go unable to leave their city. When you see the media showing a picture of a white couple with a loaf of bread wading in the water it says “a couple of people finding food “while in another picture from the same media shows almost the exact images but only the picture was black people doing the same thing the article read “people looting” the images a double stand that is consistent with the Jena 6 video. In the Jena 6 video when the white students at the high school hung a noose on the tree that angered black student who fought a white from the school. The whites who hung the noose never were charged but the blacks were charged with the fullest of the law and looked at least 20 years in prison.
The demonstrations in Jena remind me of the civil rights movement back in the 60’s when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lead protesters and marched for civil rights to get something accomplished. The picture of President Bush hugging black people with cameras snapping in New Orleans after the flood was only a photo opportunity and was strictly political because If he cared about the black peoples lives from the beginning people in New Orleans they would not have had to waited as long as they did to get relief when it clearly showed President Bush flying over New Orleans seeing the water flooding the city shortly after the Hurricane.

Gabriela Hernandez

3/15/2015 05:08:01 pm

Andre,
I really liked how you included The case of Tuskegee Syphilis study I don't think their lives in hurricane Katrina were purposely taken as a experiment although I think they went through the same struggle which is really sad. I also liked how you brought up some good points in the demonstration of Jena 6.

Andre Mouton

3/20/2015 04:10:17 am

I appreciate your response about Hurricane Katrina and Tuskegee syphilis study. I mentioned that authorities knew that a breach was probable and they knew that it could and would cause catastrophic damage including the lost of innocent poor and African American lives and in my opinion that is predicting loss of life so in my opinion it is an deliberate act. of premeditated murder. So I just happen to think outside the box Gabriela
Thanks again
Andre

Gabriela Hernandez

3/13/2015 12:37:44 pm

I believe their was many social, political and economic issues In Hurricane katrina as well as Jena 6. After watching the videos the Jena case caught my attention. It caught my attention because I thought their were a lot of politics involved I believed both cases were wrong but I feel they handled it very unfair the sentencing was wrong. I don't think because people have different skin colors they should be treated differently their should be justice and I feel this is where white supremacy comes into play. I also agree with what Andre wrote I feel that watching what happened in hurricane Katrina it reminded me of "The case of the Tuskegee syphilis study"unfortunately they were both situations where their were economic issues and where black lives were affected black lives do matter and it was unfortunate that they were victims in both situations.

Makamae Heinz

3/18/2015 08:53:33 am

Black Lives matter. Agree with what you are saying. It seems to be that they do not matter with how they treated by other people. I do not understand why they are not treated like human beings. Both videos show how people just still are out here being racist and do not care. The Jena one shows also how people can just get away with things because of being white and also because it is down south. They have a lot to work on down there and everywhere. It is still going on now and now its more of the people that are supposed to protect us. The POLICE!

Marcos Guzman

3/13/2015 04:25:53 pm

Racial tensions arose in the city of Jena due to white high school kids discriminating racially African American boys who turned around and took action for themselves. The white boys created nuces and pointed a shot gun at the African American kids on campus. The six African American kids beat up the white classmate. The white kids were let go with no charges against them. The issue that resulted from this were socially and politically unjust. The way the situation was handled by the justice system lead the country into a national outrage. Similar aspect of the government’s treatment and action can be seen during Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina devastated many citizens who were already left behind by the government. Politically we see how people request aid and say that by paying taxes it is a responsibility of the government to aid them in time of crises. People are basically left to fend for themselves with no means of financial or economic aid from the government itself. Many were and still are out raged due to the lack of support from the government. Chapter Four and Five of sister citizen correlate with the events that happened in Jena and Katrina. Many citizens felt abandoned in the aftermath of Katrina by their local, state and federal government. These same feelings were felt in Jena by all African Americans due to racial inequality. African Americans feel that the government does not acknowledge their humanity and it brings a sense of shame. Though many have been discontent with the government due to Katrina, the disaster being publicized through the media realized that racial inequality remains a major problem in the country.

I chose No/AIDS Task Force organization. Its primary mission is to reduce the spread of HIV infection. In doing so by educating, advocating empowerment and assisting those affected with the virus. NO/AIDS task force has been serving the country for thirty years working with people from all across the spectrum it aids all those in need. It makes racial and economic equality its priority. It assist not only in providing care and hope but provides a full spectrum of care at low to no cost.

Conclusion: What type of correlation can be made from Hurricane Katrina to the crooked room discovered in chapter 5?

Jessica Jaime

3/13/2015 05:03:39 pm

After watching both videos I believe that there is a huge connection with both of them. Which has ties to social, political and human injustices towards those Jena 6 African American high school students. I cant believe that the white students who hung nooses under the tree and pointed shoot guns at them were only suspended from school for there actions. Yet, when the 6 African American males that had a fight with the white male were charged and bell was charged with harsher punishments and looking to 22 years in prison. It makes me sick that racism isn't recognized as a crime and people need to come together and acknowledge the people that are being effected. Just like when Hurricane Katrina hit devastated everyone and everyone was effected where people were left to take care of themselves and figure out what they had too do to survive. The government did not rise to both occasions to do the job they were suppose to do and provided the proper help and relief for the people living is this disaster areas. Black lives matter and the injustice in both situations that took place are a reminder that there is a HUGE disconnect with political justice system.

marie brown

3/15/2015 11:24:41 am

In the words of Martin Luther King; darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that; hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that

Melissa Hernandez

3/20/2015 10:19:15 am

Jessica I agree with everything you have posted. Is is sad to know that all this still exist.

amal pujol

3/13/2015 05:12:01 pm

There were so many Issues that were evident with the Hurricane Katrina situation. Many try to point out that it was mostly a social issue that had to deal with class. If you carefully eye the situation you could see that is was just as much a race issue as it was class. The most of the people that made up the lower class in Louisiana were Blacks and they were the ones that were affected the most because people in the higher class could afford to move to safer areas for flooding. These poor blacks were already barely getting by and then Katrina came and stripped everything from them. To make matters worse the Federal government failed them and aid was slow to get to them. The scenes on the media were as though one was watching a third world country. On top of that the poor people were villiainized in the media for looting but they were doing what they needed to survive. The Jena 6 racial issues were very straight forward, here you have these white teens that commit acts representative of lynching and violence and get a slap on the wrist and then you have black teens that got into a fight were the patient sustained minor injuries and they had to face criminal charges. Again it villainous to the image of blacks. What role do you feel slavery played in the political and economic status of Louisiana just prior to hurricane Katrina. How would the federal emergency response have been different had it been in a state with a high white population?

Marcos Guzman

3/20/2015 08:46:46 am

I believe had it been a high white state population. The response would have been more efficient and critical. It is very evident that the media was able to capture the reality of how African Americans were treated after the disaster. This brought the reality of how America treats its tax paying citizen.

Jordan S. Leopold

3/27/2015 06:30:49 am

Amal, I absolutely think that Federal and state response to the tragedy would have been more swift and critical if the state was predominately white. It's an atrocity because the city, state, and federal government knew about the potential disaster given its geographical location/history with hurricanes and the faulting levees. Kanye had a strong point when he stated that, "George Bush doesn't care about Black people." on live television. Neither did FEMA.

MARIE BROWN

3/14/2015 06:11:47 am

The lively- hood of RACISM AND RACE RELATION
Personally, a moving stories of loss and suffering, of heroic (my son) individuals and communities this tragedy revealed a number of other issues , including the poor crisis management, slow response of federal authorities, and Bush not setting foot in new Orleans for many days. There was extensive highlight of how the rich were able to leave, but the poor were unable to, and suffered the worst of the hurricanes destructive. There was looting of shops, because people had no food or water for many days, some scenes turned violent. The media jumped on this showing picture of black people running riot giving the impression this is how black people are when there are no laws, but this is not so true. Evacuation was mainly left up to individual people to find their own way out of the city. It was known that many residents did not own cars. Consequently most of those stranded in the city are elderly and the sick, and many lives were lost, while many more were disrupted. Hurricane Katrina left hundreds of thousand without access to their homes sand separated people from relatives, and inflicted both physical and mental distress on thos4 who suffered through the storm and its aftermath.
While the case was pending, it was often cited as an example of racial injustice in the United States, due to a belief that the defendants had initially been charged with too-serious offenses and had been treated unfairly. A number of events took place in and around Jena in the months preceding the Barker assault, which have been linked to an alleged escalation of racial tensions. These events included the hanging of nooses from a tree in the high school courtyard, two violent confrontations between white and black youths, and the destruction by fire of the main building of Jena High School. The incidents were often linked in the extensive news coverage regarding the Jena Six. The act of hanging someone with a hangman‘s noose has a long history as a form of capital punishment. It also has a history of the lynching of black by lynch mobs. It is suspect that the nooses where hanging from the very tree that the black student gathered under? Definitely. Was the punishment of as three-day suspension appropriate for their acts? No. they should have been given a more severe punishment from the school board

amal pujol

3/16/2015 02:06:24 am

Marie,
I agree with you 100%. The media did try to make the poor blacks that were left to fend for themselves out to be villains. It was almost like they where trying to pin the conditions being so bad on them. You are right in saying the punishment was not sufficient. When ever there is wrong done to black people they always expect us to under react and when a black person commits even the most minor offense the state is ready to overact and pounce on them.

Makamae Heinz

3/18/2015 08:50:13 am

The videos you have listed above had me in tears. I would like to say my thoughts towards the Jena 6. I remember hearing about that when it happened on T.V. It is a shock to see how they had them locked up for attempted murder but the other kids got nothing for hanging up the horrible rope that people have went through from our ancestors. I will never understand why certain white people hate on people of color. I do not get why they can not just love people. I know there are racist people in all races, but I am speaking on what we are currently discussing. I think the Jenna 6 was unfair and the attorney that was African American was horrible also. This was socially wrong and political also. People came from everywhere without eating and wanted to show the love and support for this wrongful act. I like how one of the guys commented and said that we can all get together and get along. I like how I seen Dr. kings son in the march and other beautiful people that are making a difference out here against the fight of racism. Hurricane Katrina is something I will never forget watching on my screen. It is just how I seen 9/11 and will never forget the morning we woke up and my mother told me to turn on the T.V and I watched how the other plane flew in the building. Hurricane Katrina was letting the truth come out of how racist and unjust the U.S.A is. Why did they take so long to help! There is no excuses. I thought it was so funny how President Bush goes on T.V hugging black people. Please! He did not care. The looting always is going to happen in any situation like that. I did not like how they tried to put it on so much with them looting. If you are starving for food, your going to go steal some. I know I would have for my family. I believe these two videos have a lot in common. They both were unjust and treated horrible. The Jenna six had white only jurors. Hurricane Katrina got left for so many days and I do not think that would have done that if It happen somewhere else that was not mostly African Americans. Advocates for Environmental Human rights was an interesting organization that helps people out

.
Advocates for Environmental Human Rights (“AEHR”) is a nonprofit, public interest law firm whose mission is to provide legal services, community organizing support, public education, and campaigns focused on defending and advancing the human right to a healthy environment, and advocating for the human rights of internally displaced Gulf Coast hurricane survivors.
Defending and Advancing the Human Right to a Healthy Environment
AEHR works to achieve environmental justice by advocating for the human right to a healthy environment, as well as the human rights to life, health, racial equality, and security of one's home.

Protecting the Human Right to Return with Dignity & Justice After Hurricane Katrina
AEHR advocates for a just, sustainable, and anti-racist rebuilding of Gulf Coast communities that respects the right of all residents to voluntarily return to their communities with dignity and justice.

I really like what they do and I am happy there are good organizations that are helping people out.

I leave you with the thought of will it ever change? Change on how they treat us??????

My thoughts are I do not know but I know it will get better one day and we will make it through all that we go through.

Jordan S. Leopold

3/27/2015 06:15:53 am

To answer your question Makamae, I think the countries treatment towards Blacks and other "minority" communities will eventually improve. I think the systemic issues of discrimination are slowly improving as more pieces of legislation are passed to systematically improve our institutions and systems. Even though there are pieces that negatively impact how we are treated, I think much of the issues will be relieved over generations as the country becomes more and more diverse and progressive. But I do believe it is on those who are being treated terribly to stand up and speak out against each instance they face or have witnessed.

Melissa Hernandez

3/20/2015 10:17:17 am

It is so sad to watch the devastating after mass of hurricane Katrina. I understand that we can not control natural destruction, but we have the ability to save lives. We are the United States of America the most powerful Country in the world. Hurricane Katrina left many people without homes, food and water. It is appalling to know that many lives could have been saved if the correct infrastructure would have taken place prior to the hurricane. To know that all that residents had to wait in order to receive any help was mind startling. Is the way people should be treated? Absolutely not! This is socially and politically wrong, all the people should have received help right away. People were to fend for themselves.
Jena 6 was another sad situation. To know what many people can get away with. To know how much racism is still left in our world. The young kids that were involved were not treated fairly. I always feel that the crime should fit the punishment. The punishments that the prosecutors were trying to achieve were extreme. Saying there was no racism involve was not accurate information given to the media. The Jena school had an extreme amount of racism that even the residents were in denial. The caucasian kids can receive little punishment for hanging noose and other incidents that happened prior to the fight. An all white jury. This lack of discipline to the caucasian children caused the town to become upset, causing the citizens to march and stand up for each other.
Both of these incidents are similar in the fact that Blacks were treated unfair. The government affiliations were not there in time for the people in need.

Jordan S. Leopold

3/27/2015 06:08:56 am

These incidents are tragedies as they highlight the institutional, judicial, systematic racial and classist discrimination that Blacks face TODAY within the United States.

Hurricane Katrina was an atrocity. Thousands were stranded and left to die as they had very little hope after losing their homes, belongings, friends, and family members. The victims were treated with horrific care, seen evident in the local, state, and federal governments response to the natural catastrophe which seemed intentional as their limited efforts didn't seem to provide genuine relief. The city was on the borderline of anarchy and even martial law as the "support" seemed to worsen the situations people were in at the time, terrorizing them through guns and force.

Jena 6 demonstrated how racism is still alive within our society and how flawed our institutions and judicial systems are. These were teenagers who were tried 20 years for assaulting a white male classmate in response to the hate and humility they faced as Black students. The schools act of simply suspending the white students over expelling them for such a horrific act shows that racism exists within academic institutions and the value of the physical, emotional, and mental well being of Blacks are very minuscule. The judicial system is clearly flawed as the student was tried by a jury of all white "peers," blatantly breaking his constitutional right to due process and equal protection under law.

The organization I choose to look into was the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana. As an organization, the ACLU of Louisiana is a branch of the greater ACLU nationwide organization whose aim is to fight against all forms of discrimination. Their mission is to hold the country accountable as the organization aims to protect and preserve our constitutional rights of our 1st amendment, right to equal protection under the law, right to due process, right to privacy and much more. I have been interested in what ACLU does and their efforts ever since I met ACLU's Director Anthony Romero before he spoke to CSU East Bay's student population 3 years ago.

Hurricane Katrina & The Jena 6 (week 10)

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Hurricane Katrina & The Jena 6 (week 10)

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