Jesse Jackson Fetes Ethnic Media for Rebuilding NOLA
New America Media, News Report, Anthony D. Advincula, Posted: May 02, 2008
Editor's Note: Racial tensions notwithstanding ethnic media can be the media arm of the struggle to revitalize New Orleans says Rev. Jesse Jackson. Anthony D. Avincula has this report.
NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Rev. Jesse Jackson called on members of the ethnic media last week to unite and support the revitalization efforts in New Orleans.
“We should help each other, promote each other, and learn from each other,” Jackson said at a press conference held at Xavier University April 24. “We need to find a common ground to connect us, and push for better health care, education, economy, and employment.”
The crucial component of economic reconstruction, he said, is to allow the old-time Nola residents who fled from Katrina to come back and reconstruct their houses. “Allow the displaced to return from exile,” he said.
Calling minority journalists the “media arm of our struggle,” Jackson said that post-Katrina New Orleans should be reported not just “through the lens of white perspective,” but more so through the plight of those who suffer.
“We’re not just the small version of Times Picayune,” he said, urging everyone in the room to focus on media diversity that crosses racial divides. “No more enslavement – whether you’re of Asian, African, Hispanic or Native American descent.”
“Enough with all day, all night, all white stories,” he added. “Let’s expand our language. More Hispanics, more Asians, more Blacks, more growth.”
But Jackson admitted that there was growing tension between Blacks and Latinos over employment and security issues in New Orleans.
Nearly three years after Katrina, tens of thousands of newcomer Latinos, including undocumented immigrants, have already settled in New Orleans, working mostly in construction jobs. While they help rebuild the city that was ravaged by floods, many believe that they have also taken jobs away from old-time Nola residents, the majority of whom are Blacks.
“First of all, as indigenous blacks were pushed out, they (the government) enticed Hispanics to come in and work for low wages and (in) an exploited work environment,” he said. “This creates tension. But we must learn how to serve and live together. We’re going to be neighbors for the rest of our lives.”
Asked about the immigration system in the country, Jackson described it as “not even.” He pointed out that while people in Haiti are suffering from the food crisis, many eating mud to survive, the U.S. government allows more Cuban immigrants than Haitians.
“It’s wrong, morally and politically,” said Jackson, adding: “Our system is intimidating. “We should have a more rational process for admitting immigrants into the country, and we should enroll them in a path that leads to citizenship.”
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User Comments
kawahchan on May 02, 2008 at 10:00:40 said:
The 2008 Presidential Hopeful JOHN McCAIN has been toured around our America's "forgotten place" -- New Orleans' Hurricane Katrina after. If Bush administration could not do the job right to rebuild the disaster area in New Orleans' Hurricane Katrina after, can JOHN McCAIN's 2009 White House save New Orleans ? TO: the New Orleans' black community, since we've learnt a "Pennsylvania-as-Louisiana" theory from Obama, the McCAIN's Coalition have a suggestion to the (black) Hurricane Katrina victims, your home had been wet and damaged badly by Katrina and flooding, many moldy houses are impossible and costly to repair or construct again. Supposed the black community to have another town hall meeting with the 2008 Presidential Hopeful JOHN McCAIN to discuss about another federal aid granted to build a brand new economic re-settlement "Satellite Town" within 10-story or 20-story condominium buildings, the ground floor (1st floor) is a shopping hub for mini grocery store, fast foods cafe, coffee shop and restaurant, beauty salon/barber shop, clothings, day care, banking & ATM, police/security office, etc. to develop local community economy and to create the "Satellite Town's" insider-residents' jobs and livelihood. This kind of re-settlement "Satellite Town" is totally self-reliance and self-sufficiency, the eligible Katrina victims who can own one unit of (3-bed rooms) condominium being a homeowner without paying mortgage, all the Hurricane victims have to do is to give up their previous damaged home and land property-right and ownership to change hands to City Government of New Orleans for an exchange a new unit of condominium home to move into the economic re-settlement "Satellite Town". This way it is much "cheaper" for the black community to resettle their life after Hurricane Katrina, and the federal government under 2009 JOHN McCAIN administration is much more "efficiency" to help the needy black community to rebuild New Orleans' disaster area; a new economic re-settlement "Satellite Town" within several 10-story or 20-story condominium buildings are a long-run re-settlement plan much more "low cost and safer" than using federal aid to remodel the wet, moldy, damaged houses.
Brittanicus on Apr 30, 2008 at 16:56:52 said:
Jesse Jackson does not talk for the majority of black American citizens. African Americans have disenfranchised by the cheap labor from other countries. This is a nationwide issue, that is growing and causing mass employment amongst young blacks.
-->AMERICA is not without poverty, so why are we importing more. We have single Mothers with children, many homeless including a large number of veterans. So why do the taxpayers support the 12 to 30 million illegal aliens squatting in our nation? Until we eradicate our own poverty, we should pay attention to the poor, unskilled workers of our country. Like I always said, \'we cannot subsidies the worlds poor\' They will have to look towards their own government?
The only immigration reform is the Democrats stop trying to gut this enforcement only law and sponsor it. Most of these leading Democrats are doing everything they can to derail this Federal legislation. No Comprehensive reform! No path to citizenship, unless you leave and return through the front door.
They don\'t like the Federal SAVE ACT(H.R. 4088) because it would disenfranchise all the potential 12 to 30 million illegal alien votes. The SAVE ACT will force illegal aliens to self-deport or as its called \'ATTRITION.\" Can\'t get a job, because predator employers will be hunted down; heavily fined or go to prison.
This is comprehensive reform?
Illegal immigration all encompassing your Jobs and economic growth, energy independence, health care access, education and an overcrowded prison system. All these issues are impacted by the 12 to 30 million illegal immigration invasion. Predator employers would rather hire an illegal worker, than YOU? No workers compensation to pay, no health care and a miserable low wage. Without any compunction, pariah employers will dump their hired charges on hospital steps; then you the taxpayer covers th cost.
Find out the unsuppressed truth at these websites: GRASSFIRE, NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH, LIBERTY POST, IMMIGRATION NEWS INDEXER, UNIPAC and VDARE.
Please copy and paste and distribute freely where you can!
This is the only source you need to contact your representative at outsourcecongress.org/outsource/congress/schstaffers.html
YOU CAN ALSO CALL your Congressmen today, and demand they co-author The Federal SAVE ACT (H.R. 4088). Toll free at 18778516437 and 18662200044 & 12022243121 AND REGISTER YOUR OUTRAGE. Also petition to build the border fence as originally planned at grassfire.