Katrina has spurred other blacks to take crucial roles in relief efforts. Now billionaire Mississippi native Oprah Winfrey is bringing her show to the Katrina zone, defense attorney Willie Gary is planning to transport victims in his 737 jet, and rapper Kanye West can excoriate President George W. Bush's response to the hurricane in front of a nationwide audience. Tavis Smiley has devoted much of his television talk show to Katrina.
"I've seen black folk come together around any number of issues. It's usually either a head or a heart issue," he said. "For example, we came together after the election of 2000, when Bush essentially stole the election. That was a head issue. People were mad. Other issues hit our hearts; O.J. Simpson comes to mind."
"This is the most devastating thing to their community they've seen in their lifetime," said the original hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons. "I've never seen a bigger outpouring of love and giving. I've never seen anything like it."
RSS