Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster - Hardcover

Dyson, Michael Eric

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0465017614 ISBN 13: 9780465017614

Publisher: Civitas Books, 2006

Synopsis

When Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, hundreds of thousands were left behind to suffer the ravages of destruction, disease, and even death. The majority of these people were black; nearly all were poor. The Federal government's slow response to local appeals for help is by now notorious. Yet despite the cries of outrage that have mounted since the levees broke, we have failed to confront the disaster's true lesson: to be poor, or black, in today's ownership society, is to be left behind. Displaying the intellectual rigor, political passion, and personal empathy that have won him acclaim and fans all across the color line, Michael Eric Dyson offers a searing assessment of the meaning of Hurricane Katrina. Combining interviews with survivors of the disaster with his deep knowledge of black migrations and government policy over decades, Dyson provides the historical context that has been sorely missing from public conversation. He explores the legacy of black suffering in America since slavery and ties its psychic scars to today's crisis. And, finally, his critique of the way black people are framed in the national consciousness will shock and surprise even the most politically savvy reader. With this clarion call Dyson warns us that we can only find redemption as a society if we acknowledge that Katrina was more than an engineering or emergency response failure. From the TV newsroom to the Capitol Building to the backyard, we must change the way we relate to the black and the poor among us. What's at stake is no less than the future of democracy.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Eric Dyson, named by Ebony as one of the hundred most influential black Americans, is the author of sixteen books, including Holler if You Hear Me, Is Bill Cosby Right? and I May Not Get There With You: The True Martin Luther King Jr. He is currently University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University. He lives in Washington, D.C.

From AudioFile

For the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the author blames the racism of the wealthy, whites, Republicans, and the cronyism of George W. Bush. He documents all his claims with ample evidence and abundant quotations. Andrew Barnes's slow pace and African-American intonation fit the message and the milieu. He does award-winning imitations of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and hip-hop singer Kanye West. His impeccable diction and avuncular manner turn somewhat repetitive rhetoric into a listenable lesson more pleasant than a paper version. Barnes's deep voice makes car speakers shake off their dust and earbuds tickle the ears. Short recordings of Katrina's angry survivors separate the chapters. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Civitas Books
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0465017614
• ISBN 13: 9780465017614
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272