BlackTree TVKatrina 911
Katrina 911
The images are scorched into our collective memory. There were survivors carrying what belongings they could salvage, trekking through waist-high sewage in search of high ground; there were images of mothers carrying children and sons pushing fathers in wheelchairs; there were survivors on rooftops with signs held overhead pleading for supplies as helicopters flew past; and there was anguish at the Superdome. There was also the report of survivors, largely black in number, turned back by police at gunpoint on the Gretna Bridge as they sought dry land. There was the talk of being a "refugee" in your own country and the looting of abandoned shops and stores — all caught on camera.
And there was the constant question of "How could this happen here?"
Today marks the second anniversary of the Katrina disaster, and life amid the protracted rebuilding efforts remains a struggle for many hurricane survivors. But if one factor has been exacerbated by the devastation that nearly leveled New Orleans two years ago, it's the stark racial divide in the city that by many accounts is harsher today than ever.
Charges of political corruption, complaints from those still awaiting federal assistance, a sky-high crime rate and some devastated, mostly black, areas that are still untouched by efforts to rebuild have left tensions in the city at an alarming high.
BlackTree Media's new documentary that covers the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina features interviews with New Orleans native Mia X live from Congo Square on the 1 year anniversary of Katrina as well as interviews days after Katrina at the BET SOS telethon from Erykah Badu, Tommy Hilfiger and others as they discuss what needs to be done to help the residents of New Orleans after facing the worst domestic tragedy in American history. Two years after the storm hit and many of the problems that existed days later still exisit to this day.
BlackTree TV Coverage of BET SOS Telethon: Saving Our Selves 2005
Jay-Z and Russell Simmons discuss their commitment to the relief effort of Hurricane Katrina. They also discuss their support for Kanye West who said, "Bush doesn't care about black people". Others who spoke with BlackTree TV that day were Cousin Jeff, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, David Banner, Tommy Hilfiger, Rosie Perez, Juelez Santana, Star Jones, and former New Orleans mayor Marc Morial.
These clips are from the SOS telethon less than 2 weeks after the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005.
- Produced by Lydia Idem of BlackTree Media
- Co-Produced by Nancy Redd
- Personality: Nancy Redd
- Editor: Tyler Hatton
Excerpt from Katrina 911
It's hurricane season on the Gulf Coast. Throughout the region, people are talking about what little has been done — not only by way of rebuilding and the residents' right of return, but making sure the area is safe from another storm. A long two years later, there are no guarantees.
In a region where hope has been hard to find, there is one bright spot. Hurricane Katrina mobilized Americans from all over the country to head South in the spirit of service. From New Orleans to Biloxi, an estimated 1.1 million volunteers have contributed services worth nearly $263 million in the last two years, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Nic Bonsell, 26, is one of those volunteers. He came to New Orleans from Minnesota in November 2005 to help with the Gulf Coast clean-up. Like many volunteers, Bonsell was only supposed to stay for a couple weeks. Two years later, he's still in New Orleans.
"When I first got here, the city was dead. The power was out, the curfew was still in effect and there were military Humvees driving the streets." Since then, he's seen New Orleans grow into a functioning city. "It's 200 times better than what it was back then," he said. "The heart and soul of the city hasn't been lost. The people kept that, and they're trying to bring it back."
BET News Guides One-Year Look Back on Disaster, Recovery and Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Her destructive winds, damaging waves and torrential rains ended long ago. But the tragedy and indelible marks of Hurricane Katrina remain. As the Gulf Coast region nears the one-year anniversary of the greatest natural disaster in modern U.S. history, BET News today launches a month-long series of daily news briefs and testimonials capturing life in the aftermath for Louisiana and Mississippi as the rebuilding continues. S.O.S: SAVING OURSELVES - ONE YEAR LATER is a poignant reprise by BET News that culminates on Tuesday, September 5 with a primetime special that takes a probing look at the region's future.
BET News has assembled a cadre of celebrities, community leaders, government officials and local citizens to lend voice and perspective to its series. These individuals either lived in or traveled to the ravaged region. Some were directly impacted by the storm, while others contributed time and money to assist in the relief effort. Noteworthy participants in the series include actress Holly Robinson-Peete; rappers David Banner and Ludacris; gospel duo Mary Mary; hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; religious leader Bishop Paul Morton; New Orleans activist Kalamu ya Salaam; Mary Joseph of the New Orleans Children's Defense Fund; and many others.
"Those powerful images of death and devastation in New Orleans and the surrounding region will be remembered forever," said Nina Henderson Moore, BET Executive Vice President of News & Public Affairs. "The rebuilding effort since then has progressed, yet been controversial at many levels. This series will do more than just revisit the past. There are still many unanswered questions about the local impact, especially among African Americans; the government's failures in the face of disaster; and the vulnerability of the area to future hurricanes. Ultimately, our series is part of BET's ongoing effort to keep the public focus on this region and its recovery."
