It's Not About Race. It's About Self-Reliance
And Self Respect
After Katrina: What Black New Orleanians Need to Do
By Mychal Massie, Special to AOL Black Voices,
Posted: 2006-02-28 09:44:06
It is popular for those deriving their authority from racial politics to claim Hurricane Katrina exposed a culture of racism and prejudice. I beg to differ. While racism and prejudice exist, what Hurricane Katrina truly exposed was a community deprived of initiative by a cradle-to-grave welfare system.
It can be argued and it can be spun, but it is undeniable that this culture of entitlement has devastated the black community nationwide in ways that make Hurricane Katrina seem like a mere pinprick. The welfare state has virtually destroyed the black family, leading to a preponderance of single-parent households, disrespect for authority and for oneself and a dependence on government assistance.
But Hurricane Katrina’s devastation provides President Bush with the opportunity to right this grievous injustice. The displaced have a right to return, but they must not return to a status quo that will once again reduce them to government wards.
It can be argued and it can be spun, but it is undeniable that this culture of entitlement has devastated the black community nationwide in ways that make Hurricane Katrina seem like a mere pinprick. The welfare state has virtually destroyed the black family, leading to a preponderance of single-parent households, disrespect for authority and for oneself and a dependence on government assistance.
But Hurricane Katrina’s devastation provides President Bush with the opportunity to right this grievous injustice. The displaced have a right to return, but they must not return to a status quo that will once again reduce them to government wards.
In public forums, the displaced residents of New Orleans are primarily asking for three things: affordable housing, better schools and stronger levees.
Homeownership should be a priority where government subsidies were once the norm. Additionally, tax incentives for businesses and the creation of hybrid enterprise zones can make New Orleans a city poised to seize the future. To create a better, more responsible educational system, school choice opportunities that enjoy the support of blacks nationwide must be available. This is something the Bush Administration has promoted long before Katrina’s winds began to blow. As for the levees, building them stronger is a no-brainer. This time, however, construction must be guided by what will withstand a category 5 hurricane rather than fears of an environmentalist lawsuit.
Hurricane Katrina revealed a community of people born into a culture in which desire and the willingness to seek opportunities for advancement were non-existent. It was a community essentially emasculated by a generational addiction to government assistance. To simply resume throwing money at this historically dysfunctional zeitgeist of poverty will simply restart the cycle of decline that Katrina exposed for all to see.
About the Author
Mychal Massie is a nationally recognized political activist, pundit and columnist. He is host of the widely popular talk show "Straight Talk." He has appeared on the Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, Comcast Cable and talk radio programming nationwide. He is a member of the conservative public policy institute National Center for Public Policy Research-Project 21.
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Homeownership should be a priority where government subsidies were once the norm. Additionally, tax incentives for businesses and the creation of hybrid enterprise zones can make New Orleans a city poised to seize the future. To create a better, more responsible educational system, school choice opportunities that enjoy the support of blacks nationwide must be available. This is something the Bush Administration has promoted long before Katrina’s winds began to blow. As for the levees, building them stronger is a no-brainer. This time, however, construction must be guided by what will withstand a category 5 hurricane rather than fears of an environmentalist lawsuit.
Hurricane Katrina revealed a community of people born into a culture in which desire and the willingness to seek opportunities for advancement were non-existent. It was a community essentially emasculated by a generational addiction to government assistance. To simply resume throwing money at this historically dysfunctional zeitgeist of poverty will simply restart the cycle of decline that Katrina exposed for all to see.
About the Author
Mychal Massie is a nationally recognized political activist, pundit and columnist. He is host of the widely popular talk show "Straight Talk." He has appeared on the Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, Comcast Cable and talk radio programming nationwide. He is a member of the conservative public policy institute National Center for Public Policy Research-Project 21.
Get the Democratic Point of View
Get More of Today's Top News Stories
2006-01-30 18:14:07