Where to Now?

Last night I saw the second part of Spike Lee's documentary on Katrina--When the Levees Broke. I don't see how anyone could watch that accounting and be satisfied with how that tragedy was "handled." Even if we argued that we were totally unprepared for an event of such proportions, what has not been done since is criminal.

I think the lack of urgency, care, and aggressive support for those impacted and the city itself is perhaps worse than that shown for countries devastated by war, The Marshall Plan for Germany after World War II, The Berlin Airlift, and presently the billions we are pouring into Iraq. In truth, what the Katrina tragedy represents is the deep chasm that exists along racial lines that we ignore or pretend away by highlighting successful African Americans. This chasm probably goes all the way back to slavery.

Perhaps, even more discouraging is the lack of a public outcry! It's easy to castigate our public officials, they only respond to something that threatens their seat in congress. Given the year that's passed, we have a measure of their sense of urgency, care, and commitment to the citizens of New Orleans and the city itself.

Given that situation, what is our alternative? I suggest a national movement to help ourselves, just as Ghandi rallied Indians during the early part of the last century. The realization is there is no help coming until we begin to help ourselves! We always invite others to join but we must take action first. Many of us, African Americans, have "made it" throughout the U.S.

I suggest we start by ensuring that those displaced in our local communities are supported to begin thinking about their futures in a proactive way. We have taken this action in Salt Lake City with Katrina Support Group. I suggest communities in every city where people are displaced take similar action. We need no great leader to take action in our own behalf. In truth, we decided here in Salt to take action. We are often surprised how "empowered" we can become in an action mode.

Then, we turn our attention to the people of the city itself. I don't have all the answers, but I do know from past experiences of starting organizations that if the time is right and it's a movement that is waiting to begin, it quickly takes on a life of its own! Again, this is done by average people like you and me. If this appeal makes sense to you, please forward this blog to all your friends and let's see what happens.

I am available for questions involving the mechanics of how we started the Salt Lake Karrina Support Group. Although, I have spoken most about New Orleans, this "Katrina Restoration Campaign" is certainly inclusive of the entire Gulf Coast. I just looked up the definition of campaign. It is "a plan of activities for a special purpose." And campaigning is "to take part in or lead a campaign." My vision is a grassroots movement.

Let's see where it leads!