It took the results of Hurricane Katrina’s bashing of New Orleans on August 29th to remind Black Americans that they are “still Black and second class!” The government truly showed benign neglect to the mostly Black victims in a tragedy that left over 1,100 dead, over 1 million people displaced, 438,000 jobs lost, and FEMA, in many places is still no where in sight. Is there any wonder that over 88% of Blacks view the nation’s response negatively! What do you expect?

The blatant cronyism in handing out $100 million to $1 billion dollar no bid contracts, while suspending affirmative action and minimum wages, has only added insult to injury for minorities and the poor. So far, only one Black firm out of Houston, TX has been identified with a small prime contract. Additionally, it should be noted that Black firms got “nothing” in the rebuild of Kuwait after the Desert Storm War, where 20% of the fighting force was Black. African American companies are getting literally “nothing” out of Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts. It’s deja vu all over again! Of the $231 billion in defense contracts, Black businesses and Latino businesses get less than 1% each. So, what do you expect?

The NAACP is under siege by the IRS questioning the NAACP’s non-profit status because of remarks made by NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, condemning the administration policies of President George W. Bush. Many African Americans had also feared that Nation of Islam Leader, Louis Farrakhan, had been “muzzled” over the past months until he stepped up defiantly at the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March on Oct. 17th in Washington, D.C., citing that, “America remains rife with racism that keeps too many blacks poor, uneducated and out of work.” He voiced the concern, shared by many, that the levees in New Orleans were intentionally blown up and left a message for other Black leaders critical of him, “Mind your own Business!” The NAACP, The Nation of Islam and Jesse Jackson’s Operation Push are critical to affirmative action and equal opportunity for Black people, but are constantly under government retaliation and siege. With the racism that still exists in America, what do you expect?

Ironically, the slaves of this country were part of a 60 million African holocaust (confirmed by Slave Castles of Ghana) during 242 years of the slave trade. After the killing and maiming of entire villages to capture potential slaves, the long death marches to the shipping points, the detention for months in squalid unsanitary conditions and finally, the Middle Passage, the survivors were the strongest and best of Africa. Is there any wonder that descendants of slaves are the best athletes in the world, dominating football, basketball, baseball…and now, tennis and golf. Is it any wonder that Black determination in the face of racism and adversity since slavery has produced some of the most formidable personalities ever, such as Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, the most powerful woman in the world today, according to Forbes, and Oprah Winfrey the #1-rated television personality in the world. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

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