SpiritMaa

The lower nine were not fine. I had just driven to the 9th ward to attend a wreath laying ceremony in honor of those lost during the levee breaches 10 years ago. I wondered where everyone was, why there was only a smattering of people in room where Obama had spoken just two days previous about ‘recovery’ and ‘resilience.’ And why they were mostly white. I listened to the messages of the politicos – the mayor, the previous state senator, and the former speaker of the house. I walked behind them as we marched down the street to lay the wreath. This was supposed to be a second line. I wondered why the band walking behind us was so silent. And why was there only a handful of people in this march? Where was everybody? And why, when I had just driven by empty lots and houses still in disrepair 10 years later, had Nancy Pelosi chanted on stage – the lower 9 are fine, the lower 9 are fine?

Later at a block party, my suspicions were confirmed. There had been another gathering in the Lower 9. Thousands – maybe 4 or 5 - including culture bearers and ritualists, drummers and Mardi Gras Indians, had gathered at the place where the levees had first breached. Thousands. To pray for those who died in the flood waters. To send out a call to bring the rest home. To speak up for community based – not economic (only) recovery. Oh. That’s where everyone was.

I wanted to see what I had missed, so I watched a local news channel that night. Nothing. The politicos in the almost empty rooms were covered, but the people’s march was not. Then I went online to see what I could find. No online New Orleans news source covered the biggest gathering of the day - maybe of the week. The only place I found photos? In a California based online newspaper. (Thanks San Francisco Bay area for helping cover the real story here in New Orleans!) When I saw the stats later – that 85% of the Lower 9th ward was still vacant, I wished my spoken response to Nancy Pelosi’s chant had been louder, much louder. No Nancy, the LOWER 9 IS NOT FINE!