Media Reaction

Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster that the United States had ever suffered from. Thousands of people we left without food, money, homes, and in many cases, their lives. Those who were able to flee, did so, but there were many that were left behind that had to face what soon became a reality, they may never see there families and the lives that they built ever again.

F.E.M.A was supposed to be there to help but according to the media, the response time was as not quick as expected. New Orleans is a predominately minority city, and many feel that this is the reason that this city in distress was not tended to like other disastrous areas. President Bush and his staff were constantly criticized for the lack of support for the Katrina victims. Many used racism and the fact the majority of the residents in New Orleans were of African American decent. There were also accusations that white Americans were being treated and looked at differently black American at a time when race should not have even been an issue. Everyone in New Orleans was a victim no matter what color, social class, or tax bracket one belonged. "While the decision to arrest people for trying to survive seems misplaced, it could have something to do with the news coverage of Katrina. It has been saturated with descriptions of blacks chest-deep in water "looting" food, while referring to whites in virtually the same circumstances as survivors "finding" food." (http://www.alternet.org/katrina) This is just one of the many comments that had surfaced. African Americans were being called refugees. They did not seem to be getting the same respect that their counterparts were given. Every time the television was turned on their images were the only images that were seen or discussed in what could be a disrespectful manner. Sometimes media can do or say things subconsciously, unaware of the affect that it may have on others. It could have a negative affect or a positive one. During this time of despair, many if not all were being scarred and stripped of there dignity.

The face that the media continued to show were those of African Americans or lower class white America. These were the people who did not have the means of getting out of the city. They were sent to shelter and the conditions there ended of being critical. The impact of Katrina was visible even before the storm hit land, most obviously in the images of evacuees lined up to take shelter inside New Orleans' Superdome--mostly poor