Continue the theme of art and politics, the reference: Hurricane Katrina four years later and the US government's response to this man made (levees breaking) and natural disaster (in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida). Read and listen to news coverage this weekend and include this information in a response to the question in the freewrite about hip hop and activism or why the idea of the hip hop community's outrage. Their need to speak for the silent disenfranchised people and be a voice for the voiceless, was in "the tradition".
Bring your response to class to share and also post here Tuesday either before or after class. Remember, to respond to a classmate's post. Do this on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
12 comments:
Dexter English
9/1/09
Katrina, Four Years After
Four years after Katrina the media wants us to believe there is progress being made and affordable houses available to low income families looking to make a place once called home that again. The gravity of the situation has been managed to be disregarded since day one, and even now four years after thousands left dead and millions left homeless, one mans birthday overshadows Americas worst natural disaster. Where does the voice for a people hushed into silence come from?
New Orleans, a predominately black area, has forced to become a tourist wonderland, making a majority of its profit of traveler friendly sites, mouth watering food, and elaborate shows full of vivid colors and antics. This is, for the most part, due to the “departure” of its population from a hurricane leaving a trail of disaster behind. Homes are being rebuilt and from what we are being told, at a reasonable price. As I read the “Facing South a New Voice For a Changing South” it states: “According to the GNOFHAC report, the reality is far from this case in New Orleans, where landlords are refusing to rent to families with Section 8 vouchers a whopping 82 percent of the time, either by "outright refusal to accept vouchers or by the addition of insurmountable requirements for voucher holders making it impossible for voucher holders to rent units." Section 8 is used predominately by African Americans and a state heavily populated by these same people are being told you cannot move back home unless you have a pretty penny saved, and for most the Katrina hurricane wiped out there entire lives. Reading this made the hairs on the back of my neck stand, but couldn’t shake the sudden feeling of déjà vu knowing I heard this some place else. Rapper Lil’ Wayne states in his song Georgia Bush that without wealth one can’t be accepted back home. “Now
I was born in the boot at the bottom of the map
New Orleans baby, now the white house hating, trying to wash away like we not on the map
Wait, have you heard the latest, they saying you gotta have paper if you trying to come back
Niggas thinking it's a wrap, see we can't hustle in they trap, we ain't from (Georgia)”
Lil’ Wayne was not the first nor the last to make countless songs about a tragedy swept under the rug by the faithful government we put our trust in. Funny we can’t trust what we see on the news but almost forced to believe a rapper seen as a thug and unfit citizen for his vibrant language. But if know one speaks of their behalf then how do we no the truth? How can we fight health care when these people don’t have a local hospital? Where’s the change? It all starts with a voice and hip hop is the voice of reason, the voice of truth.
when katrina hit new orleans many families were killed or even left for dead. many may think that the media progress with katrina is okay but in reality the situation is still bad. many families are promised homes to come to, a meal if they are unable to get it and many other things but this is all not true, families of katrina are still struggling to make ends meat and provide for the child and hope to see another day. the media has made us believe that there is progress being done but in reality that is not true. the media fail to report that matters are getting worse and we as a whole country need to come together and help these families that are struggling due to katrina. new orleans is a known to be the place where many tourist go for the great food and wonderful sites but since katrina many are afaird to go back home or even visit because they dont know what to make of it.according to "Facing South a New Voice For Changing South" said "Four years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, cities and towns across Mississippi are still trying to recover, but recovery efforts are being hampered by what community advocates call Mississippi's misplaced priorities." In other words fixing these cities arent really important anymore. yes we have been told that houses are being built for those families and they are going to be affordable for those familes but is that really true.according to "Facing South a New Voice For a Changing South" states:"Although progress has been made on many fronts in the last few years, the housing crisis in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast continues to be one of the largest examples of failed federal and state policies to help the region's most vulnerable residents rebuild." Finding this out is very hurtful news. when it comes to the black artist speaking out it is amazing. we have the whole black community of artist speaking about hurricane katrina and letting things be known that time is now to stand up strong for each other and stand as a whole to give our families that are struggling a chance to see who really care and want to help them get back on their feet.
Amy Quiton
Eng 1B
Katrina Homework
September 1, 2009
Katrina was a horrible destruction that left many devastated due to the lack of proper programs, leaving individuals worse off than before the natural disaster. Along with the negative attributes plagued to this massive wreckage is the fact that the hip-hop community had a prominent voice in wrapping up the governments faults. Many in this community made rhymes to channel their frustrations into concrete lyrics that demonstrate to the masses just how bad the government dropped the ball. To this day, there are people suffering in government housing even four years after Katrina came and swept their houses away. This is unfortunately showing that there are individuals that still carry the burden of this colossal destruction on their back on a daily basis.
When researching the topic of Katrina it is hard to find a lot of information that puts how the government responded in a positive light. When checking out the current status of people directly affected by this tragedy, the bad is definitely outweighing the good. On CBS NEWS they report that some individuals have chosen to quit fighting the system that has failed them so horribly. Some 21,000 people are still in FEMA provided housing. They are just ready to be heard and actually have someone listen (CBSNEWS). It is horrible to think just how incredibly hard it is for someone to be reminded everyday of how horrible Mother Nature turned their life upside down.
Currently the grim state of Katrina survivors is inconceivably just as painful as four years ago. While there was a weak response for help, this battle is still very far from over. The hip-hop community really decided to rise to the occasion and wrote music that was outspoken to gain attention for those who were powerless. Since circumstances are still forbidding people from living normal lives the hip-hop community needs to come back and step in and step up. It was their controversial lyrics that forced pressure on saving even the poorest of people. Since there is still a problem, there is still a need for a solution. Music can help catapult a revamped stress on those who have the power to help end this wreckage. Awareness is the key to fighting this continuous disaster.
I really like Dexter's piece. He incorporated some information about the now status of Katrina with some of hip-hop's cries for change. It is really a shame to know that people are still being "swept under the rug". They have every right to recieve the same kind of treatment that a rich upper-class neighborhood would if they were suddenly devastated. This however, because of politics or what have you, is not the case. I guess if I have to critique anything it would be the organization of the writing. Although the content of the essay was good, it was a bit scattered. Overall, excellent, valid, writing.
Amanda Rodriguez
August 31, 2009
Responds to Katrina 2009
Rereading the assignment that was giving to my English 1B class, I sit here looking for articles that have emotional based sentiment about the scares Hurricane Katrina left. Entering and re-entering different phrases on google, I start to become frustrating and angry as I see articles that have to deal with the crime rates in New Orleans, poverty, and violence. Finally I come across one article that called Hurricane Katrina anniversary brings community events. Yes, I found the article I was looking for.
In a way this isn’t really considered an article because it is just a list of events that that the communities of New Orleans organized for the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Some events were around prayer and remembering those who had lost there lives to the Hurricane. In one community they place 1,400 of remembrance and just talked amoung themselves about that horrible time. In another communities, they focused of healing and trying to rebuild the houses that are still destroyed.
As this weekend came and gone I noticed maybe just once that the media mentioned the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. It made me so angry to see what little publicity the anniversary got from the media. I believe the radio broadcast mentioned way more them the television. The played many songs that artist recorded after the Hurricane, like lil waynez, Tie my hands.
Jessica Farnlacher
September 8th 2009
To be quite honest, around 2005 when Katrina hit, I knew of it, but never knew about the severity of the natural disaster. I hadn't realized how severe the massacre was until I did research on it for this response. Either I really didn't watch the news for squat, or it wasn't televised or mediated as much as it should have been. If there wasn't enough media for me to see how crazy this all was, then I honestly don't think the government was doing enough to let people know what was honestly going on. I also believe that even though Hurricane Katrina was in the media, it HAD to have been fabricated. If they weren't mediating it, what makes you think that they were even doing ANYTHING about it?
Looking up Hurricane Katrina, I see pictures of pain, left and right. Crying children, destroyed homes, famished families who once lived a normal life, families who didn't all make it, graves of those who were lost, all because of one major natural disaster. All these people, in search of relief. It has been four years since Hurricane Katrina hit the beloved city of New Orleans, and where do they stand today? What's going on down South?
Relief, finally. Slowly, but surely. A lot of victims are currently staying in trailers near by their homes, yearning for their repairs to be complete and for their lives to return back to normal, and about a third of these people living in trailers have been able to move back into their homes so far. Obama is doing as much as he can, as fast as he can, to not only to resurrect New Orleans, but the U.S. all together.
In relation to hip hop, the voices of the artists gave voices to those who were voiceless because their voices were heard on the radio and in the media on a daily basis and are inspiration for those who are voiceless to speak louder. Not only did a lot of artists give a voice to the voiceless, but they lent a hand in and physically went to New Orleans, trying to make a difference. Artists from Lil Wayne to Beyonce have gone out to New Orleans, doing as much as they could to help them renovate, and create hope for those who had loss. I think if it weren't for artists who had voices, that this whole thing may have been swept under the rug by Bush as if it never happened. Something as tragic as this should be shown to the whole world. Whether it's socially accepted or not, it's reality and something needs to be done about it.
Ilene Lee
English 1B
TTH 9-10:50
Hurricane Katrina Homework
The 4th Anniversary of the heart-wrenching Hurricane Katrina seems to mark another year of shame and incompetence for the United States government. When the Hurricane Katrina first struck the New Orleans area, people’s lives were completely destroyed- leaving them in a grim nightmare with no where to turn. Citizens turned to the government for immediate relief, but the needs of many Americans were neglected and placed aside. To alleviate the tension and anger Americans were dealing with, many began to express their strong emotions with lyrics and rhymes that represented their resentment towards the United States government. Artists throughout the nation understood the pain and rage of the Americans struggling to live and focused their efforts on reaching out to others who would lend a hand. These vocalists humanized the frustration and fury of those directly in Hurricane Katrina- they turned their nightmares into songs of pain.
People, to this day, are still living in the slumps and ruins of the destruction they had to deal with four years ago. There is still much to repair and rebuild within the communities of the New Orleans. People are still hoping to regain their lives and recover what they lost. There has not been much focus on Hurricane Katrina for the past few years, but recently President Barack Obama has shared his concern for the people. The New York Times detail President Obama’s intentions to reconstruct and pave the levees and floodwalls of New Orleans. He proposes a settlement his administration has placed on speeding up the recovery of the area, but his words show more potential than his actual actions. President Obama does a great deal of talking the talk, but can he succeed in walking the walk; and turn New Orleans back into the tourist attraction it once was? We all hope for the best for those in the New Orleans and pray that their struggles will soon be over.
It is hard to foresee a bright future for such a bad situation like Hurricane Katrina. With the four years that have past, many have lost hope and interest for the hearts of those still holding on tightly to the thin rope keeping them together. Artists and vocalists need to continue finding their inspiration to creating justice in the efforts of Hurricane Katrina. Awareness and knowledge needs to be shared for others to understand the severity of this issue. When Hurricane Katrina first impacted Americans throughout the nation, hip hop artists responded with songs and lyrics that promoted social reform. It motivated others to learn more about Hurricane Katrina and prompted many to volunteer and share their efforts. There is still a lot that needs to be done to resurrect the beautiful New Orleans. Music and lyrics spark the change within people, it is still time to keep rapping and singing for justice within Hurricane Katrina.
Dexter's response was able to convey the objective of the assignment and also show his personal insight into this issue. His use of evidence aided in showing the poor results of Hurricane Katrina. People today struggle to get by in their communities- 4 years after that horrific incident; they are still homeless and left without security.
I agree with Mar'Queshia that there are a bunch of artist working magic and speaking out and using affirmative action to help the suffering victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Melissa Carpenter
English 1B
Katrina: Four Years After
Four years after the devestating Hurricane Katrina many people are still picking up the pieces of their lives. Many are still struggling and have lost everything that they had worked so hard for. Loved ones are missing or gone forever. And yet with all this pain and heartache many people also learn how to fight through the battle and keep their hope alive. The government wants the people of the world to believe that everything is okay, but in reality it isn't. There is still suffering and lose amoungst us. Although a life changeing event had taken place four years ago it doesn't mean that that small amount of time let everyone forget and move on. It is important that we all be aware of what's going on around us and not forget to show compassion to those who have suffered or are worse off than us. Awareness is what we all should have and to seek the truth when it isn't easy to find.
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