It has been a year since Hurricane Katrina and there have been numerous stories about the lack of progress in New Orleans, particularly in the Lower Ninth Ward. Most of the people who lived in this predominantly black, lower-income neighborhood have been displaced, and are living in other parts of the country or in FEMA trailers. They had no flood insurance. Contrast this with the wealthier neighborhoods in New Orleans, where residents are busy rebuilding, using their insurance money to rebuild their homes.
There have been many lessons learned from Katrina, and many ugly truths revealed by Katrina. This morning I read the top story in the Seattle Times about a 13-year-old girl who had been raped by a caregiver who had been employed by YouthCare, a non-profit organization that was supposed to provide a safe haven for runaway adolescents. The Seattle Times has been opening up court cases that have been closed from the public for various reasons, presumably because they would cause people or organizations involved in the case much embarrassment. This was no exception, and I bring it up because it reminds me of the privilege and oppression that divide the haves and the have nots--the ulgy truth that was revealed by Katrina.
In the rape case, it was a clear case of rape; however, because YouthCare was well-connected with important people on the board, a decision was made to blame the 13-year-old, saying she was partially responsible, even though the caregiver had a criminal background which had never been checked, and the evidence showed it was not consensual. The whole thing was a travesty, and I can't help but think that if this had happened to a rich, pretty white girl, it first of all would have been all over the newspapers, and second of all, the lawsuit would have been for millions. Clearly, our society values certain people over others.
Here is an excellent article entitled "What Katrina Teaches Us About Racism"
http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/Gilman/
