Mass Evacuations of Large Cities

[Catherine Vincent]

This has always been a fear of mine from a black prospective. Case in point, the mass evacuation of the Houston area. Although I didn’t evacuate (couldn’t get rooms, parents wasn’t up to the drive, freeways too clogged) but a niece and her husband and three kids did. I have always had this fear of driving through small towns (or any place I am not familiar with) and not getting that southern hospitality because of the color of my skin. Because of Hurricane Rita, this happened with my niece. They made it to Longview Texas with no reservations, and when they arrived at this motel; which by the way my niece described it I wouldn’t want to stay there; they didn't have a choice after driving about sixteen hours. There was one room left but didn’t want to let them have it because they were black. The manager went on and on about Katrina evacuees and how the rooms were trashed, as if one has to do with the other. But luckily the manager relented after seeing they had young kids with them. Okay, the manager didn’t come out and say they wouldn’t sell the room to them because they were black but my niece and her husband felt that was the reason.

I really hope that as the powers that be plan on improving evacuations in the future to go more smoothly, that they can improve race relations. But how do they change the attitudes of small town folks and their prejudices against people of color? And what really upset me is that these owners weren’t even your typical red neck white, they were of Persian descent (Iranian). You know I always thought as long as you have the money to pay for services or lodging etc., you shouldn’t have a problem. In the south I guess that doesn’t matter.:-(

[FrenchieCat]

1. Racism isn't about money....although many Whites think it is.

It's about feeling like one is better than others. That's a power that money can't buy. It's a sad, sad thing....I tell you!

[Brewman_Jax]

2. If nothing else

the hurricanes have shown the futility of mass evacuations of major urban areas. Those people were just as stranded on the roads out of Houston as the evacuees in the Superdome and Convention Center.

As you've seen from first-hand accounts and various news articles, race still matters, regardless of your income. Until the racial caste system is dismantled, we'll see happenings like this well into the future. Most black people aren't considered Americans, and that's sad. :(

[Old Mouse]

3. I know what you mean

I am nervous of cross-country trips.