Sep 8, 2005

Oh no he didn't.

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, is blaming black people for the New Orleans disaster:

"This is a terrible situation and we need to have compassion. The truth is Black people died not because of President Bush or racism, they died because of their unhealthy dependence on the government and the incompetence of Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco," said Rev. Peterson.

Are you fucking kidding me? There are SO many reasons why poverty and racism continue to thrive in this country. The US is NOT utopia; it is not perfect. We are not "there yet" in terms of racial and socioeconomic equality. Not yet. And as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has proved, we're not there - not by a long shot.

Who the fuck is this guy? And what is the deal with this so-called "brotherhood"? According to the organization's website, their mission is to "rebuild the family by rebuilding the man." Their vision statement reads like a well-meaning effort to help men get back on their feet and overcome life's challenges. Fair enough.

But this latest statement by Peterson makes me doubtful of the entire organization's integrity. Thanks, Peterson, for giving the right-wing more ammo to use to blame the victims.

Way to kick a brotha while he's down.

2 comments:

Justine said...

I don't understand all this talk in about blaming victims. I'm in AUstralia: we are getting a lot of news, but we aren't getting ANYTHING here about how its their fault for living in NO. But with so many American bloggers talking about blame, I'm wondering: is it the media that is telling you these suffering people are at fault, or is that just the talk that is about among people? Or a bit of both?

Scaramouche said...

They guy is a kook. He once claimed that Jesse Jackson had ordered a hit, as in killed, upon his person.