Katrina brings fear and hope in wake of rebuilding
George Curry, NNPA Editor-In-Chief
Issue date: 9/8/05 Section: COVER
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The around-the-clock cable coverage and network specials also featured repeated footage of Blacks breaking into stores. Temple's mother says that though she doesn't condone the acts, even the negative behavior should be placed in context. "They're looting because these people have been raised with a lot of anger," explains Cloud. "They were raised in homes with a lot of fussing and fighting, and that's all they know. They were abandoned by their families, and now they're abandoned again."
Margie Payne, a professor at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, has mixed feelings about whether New Orleans will ever recover. "There is a possibility of recovery, but it will take a strong commitment from the federal government."
Terry Jones, publisher of the New Orleans Data News Weekly, lost his newspaper and his home. "I was away in Atlanta when it happened," he said in a telephone interview from that city. "I had come here for a birthday party. The first reports were that the hurricane was headed for Florida, and then it turned and hit New Orleans." Jones' family went to several cities. He remains in Atlanta until he can return to New Orleans to inspect the damage, noting some poor people will be ignored in the rebuilding process.
"Some areas will be salvaged, but others won't," he explains. "There are three major housing projects, and they may not be replaced. Originally, they wanted to turn them into condos. Now, they're going to knock them down and not replace them." Because of the need to monitor the rebuilding process to make sure Blacks are not treated unfairly, Jones says he plans to resume publishing his newspaper, which has been distributed for 39 years. After that process ends, he says he will turn his attention to his future. "Now, there is going to be a lot of money being donated to New Orleans," Jones says. "We must make sure that part of that money goes to the people who are the most disenfranchised."
Margie Payne, a professor at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, has mixed feelings about whether New Orleans will ever recover. "There is a possibility of recovery, but it will take a strong commitment from the federal government."
Terry Jones, publisher of the New Orleans Data News Weekly, lost his newspaper and his home. "I was away in Atlanta when it happened," he said in a telephone interview from that city. "I had come here for a birthday party. The first reports were that the hurricane was headed for Florida, and then it turned and hit New Orleans." Jones' family went to several cities. He remains in Atlanta until he can return to New Orleans to inspect the damage, noting some poor people will be ignored in the rebuilding process.
"Some areas will be salvaged, but others won't," he explains. "There are three major housing projects, and they may not be replaced. Originally, they wanted to turn them into condos. Now, they're going to knock them down and not replace them." Because of the need to monitor the rebuilding process to make sure Blacks are not treated unfairly, Jones says he plans to resume publishing his newspaper, which has been distributed for 39 years. After that process ends, he says he will turn his attention to his future. "Now, there is going to be a lot of money being donated to New Orleans," Jones says. "We must make sure that part of that money goes to the people who are the most disenfranchised."