Racism- captured in the caption of a photograph from the heart of NOLA :-(

[Maru Kitteh]

This is a slideshow of an obviously talented photographer. White, young and racist whether intentional or not. The unfolding story of this photo essay reveals the photog sought this "adventure" voluntarily secure in higher ground and youthful hubris.

The caption of slide 193?

"My jaw dropped and a sudden state of fear grasped my body. However, I maintained utter calmness. It was obvious that they were NOT going to help these people evacuate any time soon. They had been forgotten and obviously and shamelessly ignored. And it was evident that Andy and I were merely two specs of salt in a sea of pepper. Not only would we have to wait forever, but more than anything, we would probably suffer dire conditions after it would be obvious that we wouldn't "fit in". It was clear to me that we would have to find another way out. We left the Convention Center and my first intuition is to walk around the city. I wanted to clear my head, but I also had a weird and crazy plan in mind."

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=r9nmta5.b147fdut&Uy=hbb8p1&Ux=1

[AtomicKitten]

1. I don't read racism.

"They had been forgotten and obviously and shamelessly ignored."

That shows a genuine empathy for their plight. And it is true that some of the black evil-doers in the Convention Center were taking the fruit the police initially gave the elderly and kids away from them and were picking on the minorities which happened to be whitey.

No offense, but I think you read this wrong.

[Erika]

2. I don't.

[uncle ray]

3. i agree

just like the account of one of the people that was trapped in a hotel at a convention for emergency workers, she noted that only whites (herself white) were being evacuated from NO. this is the same person who's printed story came out a few days ago, she was on the NPR program This America Life, said how they had to lie and say the black and puerto rican among them were relatives/foster kids.

[AtomicKitten]

10. Well, in your story, the rescuers were racist.

but that's different from the original post.

[Maru Kitteh]

4. No, I think I've seen it all around me all my life and I know it when I

see it. Fear - gripped her body. Why? Because she and ANDY were "specks of salt" in a "sea of pepper".

FUCK ME if that is not racism.

[mondo joe]

6. Fear of being the minority in a desperate time is not racism.

It's never fun to be the minority, and sometimes it's scary.

[Maru Kitteh]

7. Who the hell is talking about fun?

Jesus Christ on a trailer hitch.

I've been the majority, the minority and have skin on all sides of the game.

There was no excuse for this. I remain disgusted.

[mondo joe]

8. As I went on to say - if you'd READ the post - sometimes it's SCARY.

And I don't care if you're disgusted by what you project.

[Maru Kitteh]

12. Oh, I see, the word "scary"

in your post excuses the content and intent. Got it. :thumbsup:

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[mondo joe]

26. It's plain what you didn't read -- you stopped at "not fun" and missed the

POINT of the post which is that in desperate situations it can be very frightening and dangerous to be the minority.

And I'm calling BS where I see it: your post.

[Maru Kitteh]

31. All I'm asking is this:

The caption WAS RACIST. Apologizing for it IS BULLSHIT. Call it what it is BECAUSE YOU KNOW.... you know in your heart whatever circumstances, upbringing, etc.... it was RACIST.

Maybe it was stress, maybe it was completely out of character but it was RACIST.

See, the problem is - we can't FIX what happened here until we admit everything that happened here. I found a caption of a photo of a tragedy captured by a well off and talented but somewhat detached and definitely NOT BLACK photographer, who showed them-self to be at least a little........ RACIST.

[Name removed]

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[AtomicKitten]

17. I agree with what you say.

Not to pick sides and I hope this doesn't degenerate into something nasty, but the story in the original post emanated empathy for the situation and the guy clearly saw that the black people were being overlooked purposefully. That's empathy, not racism.

And sometimes people of other races are antagonistic for no particular reason other than ignorance. I live in SF and some black people will just stand in front of your car daring you to move and when you try to they get upset. It's like they are provoking a racial confrontation where, from where I stand, they are just been an a-hole and IMO race isn't an issue. But it is to them.

I was in a bank last week talking with a black woman in line. I was complaining about the bank and she said "Well at least we're not in NO." And then she looked at me - whitey - and said she couldn't talk about it. I got the distinct vibe she thought I wouldn't be sympathetic and she might have to punch me. I literally broke down weeping trying to convey to her that Americans - not whitey - but Americans are appalled, disgusted, furious, and she ended up comforting me. It began as a misconception and ended with understanding.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from here. I don't want to have to punch any of you. (ha, ha)

[omega minimo]

9. Specks of ignorance in a sea of humanity

:hi: :hug:

[Maru Kitteh]

13. Thanks. Big Hugs.

Sometimes I just can't believe what I see.

[omega minimo]

28. This week I can't believe what people don't want to see

when it's right in front of their eyes.

B-)

[RagingInMiami]

18. You live in Nebraska?

If you're a white person surrounded by hundreds of poor blacks in a major city, there is bound to be a small percentage of violent criminals.

This is reality.

[Maru Kitteh]

25. I assume that you are assuming I am white?

Which would be WRONG to start with. Second it would be WRONG to assume I've always been in NE. Third, you should read the rest of the posts and get back to me.

[RagingInMiami]

29. Whatever race you are, or where ever you grew up or have lived

Your OP told me you fail to acknowledge that racism is not just limited to white against black. There are plenty of black racists out there.

Do you believe that out of hundreds of inner city blacks, who have been subjected to racism all their lives, there is not going to be some resentment against white people?

[Maru Kitteh]

35. Yeah, and your apparently nearsighted soul leaves you believing

that BLACK PEOPLE (as you termed them) were the "problem".

Once again..... FUCK ME if that is not racism. God knows.

The ONLY shots I saw, the only accounts I heard from that center; of white or black people were of sharing and caring as ONE mass of humanity neglected by Bush.

People took care of each oher.

YOU SHOW ME THE WHITE PERSON WHO WAS BEATEN OR KILLED FOR TRYING TO JOIN THE ABANDONED AND HOPELESS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. YOU SHOW ME THAT WHITE PERSON. I will eat ever page this can be printed on.

[RagingInMiami]

40. I saw a lot of photos of people helping each other, regardless of color

I was just trying to put myself in that guy's shoes when he turned the corner and realized he was the only non-black person there. I guess I'm a racist. I'll have to live with it.

[Maru Kitteh]

44. Live with this

you saw yourself as a member of a race before humanity. That's what has been shown.

[RagingInMiami]

48. I guess you're just so much more morally superior to me

At least in your own mind. What kind of "ism" would that be. Elitism? Egoism? Narcissism?

I would guess idealism combined with moralism.

Meanwhile, those hurricane survivors, regardless of color, were demonstrating a perfect example of darwinism.

And I'm still waiting to hear the details of your personal experiences. I shared mine.

What hurricanes have you lived through? Where have you lived as both a minority and a majority? What experiences do you have that lead to your patronizing and condescending attitude?

[malaise]

46. The problem with your argument is

that it ignores the definition of racism. There is plenty of discrimination between races, but given the economic content of the definition racism, it is virtually impossible for Afro-people to be racist.
From my perspective, racism is an ideologically constructed view that the white race is physically, morally, intellectually and culturally superior to other races. Therefore those who were and able to use ideological, socio-economic and political power to prevent others from participating as equals in these territories, were/are racist.

There are many white people who are not racist, but racism is systemic and as Charles Mills adequately demonstrates in The Racial Contract, the entire Social Contract was established on behalf of rich white men.
If that was not true, basic rights and freedoms would not be amendments to the US constitution. Indeed Afro-Americans did not have the right to vote until the 1960s. The only constitution I ever read that gave black people the same rights as everyone else from the beginning is the Haitian constitution following their revolution. From that date,neither the French nor the Americans had any intention of letting those freedoms blossom. Why else did they annex half of the island and call it the Dominican Republic. Additionally, everytime the Haitian people elect a democratic leader who attempts to improve the lot of the majority of the population, he is overthrown on behalf of US and French and creole interests.

[RagingInMiami]

47. Your definition of racism is very academic

My definition is very concrete. If you hate someone else because of the color of their skin, even if you are black and they are white, you are racist.

[malaise]

49. Sorry I have to disagree

That is prejudice, discrimination. It is not racism. Words have 'concrete' meaning.

[RagingInMiami]

50. Look up racism on www.dictionary.com

Which combines Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, the American Heritage Dictionary of the Engish Language and several other dictionaries into a single database.

Their second definition is: "Discrimination or prejudice based on race."

[malaise]

54. Webster?

In my business dictionary definitions are inadequate, and it is also true that dictionaries are mostly published by those who control the information and propaganda institutions. Not buying.

[RagingInMiami]

55. So you go through life making up your own definitions?

Why don't you make up your own spellings as well, considering that dictionaries are nothing but propaganda.

[CottonBear]

5. No racism. Love, regret, hopelessness, desperation and fear...

They eventually attempted to hotwire several cars before looting (taking/finding?) a shop, taking truck keys to truck #25 and driving out of the city...What would you have done...?

God have mercy on us all.

edit: Many years ago, I was shot at by white racists while on a camping trip in Tennessee with my black Carribbean boyfriend, so I know FEAR for one's life. So did he, having lived through revolution and war. I know what it is to fear for one's life.

[melnjones]

11. The photographer is from Nicaragua...

It said so in one of the slides. I don't know if it makes a difference to you that he/she isn't necessarily white, but I thought I'd let you know.

[RagingInMiami]

19. He's an upper class Nicaraguan

Same as white.

[Maru Kitteh]

20. Are you familiar with apartheid? The young photog described HERSELF

as a speck of SALT (white) in a sea of pepper (black). That is the reason she gave why "fear gripped her body". But she remained UTTERLY calm...... well thank goodness for the level headed white girls of the world right? She figured out her and Andy wouldn't "fit in", so her mind came up with a CRAZY plan.

:puke:

[Maru Kitteh]

21. It's a dude? Sounded more like a drama queen.

I stand corrected. He's still a racist sob.

[Maru Kitteh]

22. It's a dude? Sounded more like a drama queen.

I stand corrected. He's still a racist sob.

[CBGLuthier]

51. No it isn;t

The reason they gave for the fear was the realization that these people would not be rescued because they were all black.

And that was a fact.

Now, the later comment about their fear of being the only white people may have been a little bit racist but I see no harm in it.

WTF is it with people debating stupid stuff like this anyway?

We have posters critiquing the writing and photography. People trying to parse racism in every other word or deed.

People are still fucking dieing and some would rather argue the meaning of words.

Pitiful.

[RagingInMiami]

14. You obviously haven't been in such a situation

It's not racism, it's street smarts.

[mondo joe]

16. Precisely. I've been the minority, I've been the majority. And I know

when times get bad - really bad - and people get angry - really angry - it's the minority who will most likely suffer.

[solinvictus]

23. Survival..

Pure and simple. The mob in a crisis situation is a dangerous thing and is to be avoided.

[Maru Kitteh]

27. I've been through hurricanes, I've been and lived as both a minority

and a majority in different situations. I HAVE been torn from parts of my family unsure of their fate. I DID go through a flood as a minority "race".

Oh please do tell us about YOUR OWN PERSONAL experience, I'd love to hear it.

[RagingInMiami]

38. I was born and raised in Miami

I was born to a German-American father and a Colombian immigrant mother. I grew up in a Hispanic neighborhood a mile from a black neighborhood, which meant my school was one-third black and mostly hispanic.

There was never any serious race issue in my school, but you did have some Cuban vs. black incidents.

But I went to school during the 1980s, a time when there was a lot of racial tension in Miami. Three riots broke out in Miami's black communities that decade after white cops shot and killed black men. During these riots, some blacks attacked white people who happened to be driving through the neighborhood. There were instances where black people intervened to help the white people escape, only to get pounced upon themselves. At least one black man was killed in 1989 because of this.

There have been numerous times growing up down here that I found myself the only non-black person in a large gathering. I've had a few instances of people confronting me just because I wasn't black.

I remember one time when I was walking my bike through the Coconut Grove Goombay Festival (A Bahamian festival)because I wanted to get something to eat. This black guy walked up to me and slapped me, and tried to entice me into fighting him. I walked away and a couple of other black guys came to my aid, and basically told me the best thing for me to do was just to get out of that neighborhood.

To sum it up, I grew up realizing that many black people just can't stand the sight of white people.

Now you ask about hurricanes?

I lived through Hurricane Andrew, which tore off a large piece of my roof, sent a grapefruit tree through my bedroom window and left me without power for more than two weeks.

My post-hurricane experience is that it brings out the best and worst in people. I saw a man bash another man over the head for a bag of ice (both Cuban).

There was plenty of looting down here in the immediate aftermath. Many of us were walking around with guns. It was hot and humid. Everybody was cranky.

Two weeks ago, I spent five days without power after Katrina tore through Miami as a category one hurricane. It was hot and humid. Everybody was cranky.

Last year, I was in the SW part of Florida when Charley struck, destroying a large part of our state.

[shugah]

30. OMG! how did you get past slide 1?

"...we had been warned that Hurricane Katrina was preying her eyes upon us..."

"...hurricane katrina was preying her eyes upon us..."

that was slide 1. how you made it to slide 193 i cannot fathom. slide 1 lost me for lack of education or writing skill. what he hell does that mean? a hurricane preying her eyes?

happily for me, i never made it to slide 193. i admire your perserverence. "my jaw dropped and a sudden state of fear grasped by body." huh?

[solinvictus]

32. The writer is from Nicaragua. n/t

[shugah]

34. alright

i'll take another look.

[shugah]

36. generous random sampling of pics

show many pics of things. i'm not a photography expert so maybe the pics are great and i just don't see it. if the 'salt' minoirity writer in the 'pepper sea' is actually a photographer by trade, not a writer, i might suggest classes - in either category.

[MacGregor]

42. IIRC the photographer worked at a hotel.

If they said in what capacity, I didn't catch it, as if it really makes that much a difference in the end...

[Sarojin]

37. seems more like accurate observation of relations in NO n/t

[Sarojin]

41. Somebody call KO

"I don't know her name, but she works for MSNBC. My apologies for my wordage, but this wench didn't know what the hell was going on. She made up 75% of what she was saying and exaggerated about 95% of everything that she did know. The message: do you want to be a reporter? All you need to do is have a pretty face and buy a Thesaurus!" #182

I didn't even think she's all that pretty though, heh.

[smurfygirl]

43. slide 30 is the most fucked up picture and the caption

is scary...

I encountered a man like this before a huge flood here. he wasn't screaming we were going to die but was screaming that heaven would rain down on us and wash out the sinful. two days later it rained for 36 hours straight. I will never forget that.

crazy people are fucked up.

[Generic Other]

52. An interesting Observation from the OP

The caption under pic #193 when the photographer finally arrives at the Convention Center and is overwhelmed by fear at being the minority in a sea of black faces does seem to reveal an ingrained and automatic response on the part of the photographer. I am supposing as each person would have arrived at the Convention Center, their reactions would have been to feel comforted by the presence of so many other people or to feel terribly frightened.

It didn't occur to me that the such reactions would divide along color lines.

And therein lies the problem.

Thank you for pointing out what should be obvious to all of us.

[yurbud]

53. good story of guy blown out of fourth floor who lived.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=r9nmta5.b147fdut&Uy=hbb8p1&Ux=1

[Moderator]

56. Locking...

This has become inflammatory.