The conference organizers, and other New Orleaners were very insistant that we see what is left of their city. We got a recommendation for a local cab driver who would take us on a tour. Nikki was incredible. He showed us everything– the 9th Ward, the different places the levees breeched, the places where the levees were blown up purposefully to sacrifice the lower 9th ward and save the rest of the city (yes, I am not even kidding about this– there are signs all over the area asking for witnesses as a lawsuit is in the works).
He talked with us about Po-boys and the importance of Mardi Gras for the people of the city (pre-Mardi Gras parties started Saturday– I’ll post pics of that next). He showed us the low-lying poorer/working class areas, and the higher and dryer rich areas that sustained less damage. The city is like the new Titantic metaphor– visually illustrating class inequalities and how they are magnified by disaster. We saw Nikki’s mother’s house, saw his uncle and cousins (who like many who returned to the 9th Ward, are living in little white trailers in front of their houses while slowly doing most of the clean-up work themselves). He told us about elderly neighbors who died after Katrina from the heartbreak and stress. He showed us the houses of neighbors who aren’t coming back.
I can’t really say much more. It was an overwhelming afternoon. I can’t even imagine what the past year and a half was for the people who live here and somehow still haven’t given up hope.
They don’t want people to forget, so here are some pictures to illustrate some of the rest of the story.
The lower 9th Ward–
Every building still has all the spray paint from when they checked the houses for bodies.
The house Nikki grew up in– his mom lived here before the storm.
Nikki’s childhood neighborhood:
And signs that people have been helping…
A former 9th Ward school now used as a basecamp for the local volunteer group, Common Ground. I am seriously thinking of helping them out for a couple weeks over the summer.
The air in the 9th Ward is dusty and smells chemically– here are volunteer’s masks.
And volunteer’s gloves…
HEY I YAM FROM NEWORLEANS BUT EVERY SINCE THE WHOLE KATRINAS ORDEAL I HAVENT BEEN BACK BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO SEE THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN AND TO SEE THE HURT SOULS.BUT THIS SUMMER I AM GOING BACK TO MAYBE HELP AND SEE MY FAMILY BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE TO GET OVA OF WHAT HAPPENED.BUT I AM JUST LETTING YOU ALL KNOW THAT I AM BEHIND YALL 2100 PERCENT N WATEVA YALL DO TO NEWORLEANS EXCEPT FOR TRYIN TO THROW ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE OUT THAT WAS ALREADY THERE.AND TRYIN TO NOT REBULID THE OLD SETTINGS I MEAN THEN WAT THE PURPOSE OR EVEN BUILDIN IT BACK IF THE WHOLE THING WAS BECAUSE OUR CULTURE?BUT AS WE ALWAYS SAY YOU CAN BUILD IT BACK BUT DA N.O WILL NEVA B DA SAME!!PEACEOUT!