Spike Lee’s Definitive Examination - Grade: F
August 23, 2006 by Laura | Trackback URI
Spike Lee has apparently said that he wants his Katrina documentary to be the definitive examination of Katrina. However, it sounds like that examination ought to be graded “F.” A friend of mine who saw it, along with thousands of other New Orleanians, when it premiered in New Orleans frankly called it a propaganda piece. As such, she said it was quite effective. Effective - not truthful.
Jeff Crouere says that Spike did the wrong thing. He focused, predictably, on the African Americans who were affected by Katrina. While that is a story well worth telling, it is by no means the definitive tale of Katrina in New Orleans. The fact is that blacks were not, to use the current buzz word, disproportionately affected by Katrina.
It was New Orleans Caucasians who died way out of proportion to their numbers-28 percent of the population, 45.6 percent of the city’s known Katrina deaths by race.
The most offensive part of the documentary is reportedly Lee’s treatment of the allegations that the levees were deliberately blown up. Crouere comments,
One item on Lee’s agenda was to focus on the preposterous charge that the levees were blown up after Katrina. Lee interviewed several Lower Ninth Ward residents who claimed they heard explosions and expressed their opinion that “they blew up the levees.” Yet, Lee did not examine some important questions such as who, how, why, when, with what? Are viewers to believe that during the height of a monster hurricane government officials went out to the levees with sticks of dynamite to blow them up? Give me a break. It did not happen and there is not one scintilla of evidence that any levees were purposely destroyed. The loud explosions heard by area residents can easily be explained by the huge super tanker of a barge that busted through the flood walls on its way to its final resting place in an adjacent neighborhood.
It’s worrisome to think that there are people who honestly believe that government officials hate blacks so much that they would destroy a city. It’s just not rational. This charge is about no spur of the moment crime of opportunity - unless you’re willing to believe that racist government officials just happened to have some dynamite laying about and decided this was their big chance, without regard to the consequences to the rest of the city. Lee’s reporting of these charges, without a realistic response like Jeff’s “there is not one scintilla of evidence that any levees were purposely destroyed” just adds credibility to the ridiculous.
I haven’t watched it yet, and I may not. Any Katrina documentary that includes Sean Penn is frankly not serious - unless it is trying to illustrate how clueless people with film crews tried to get a piece of the media action. I can think of better ways to spend four hours, thanks.
“It’s worrisome to think that there are people who honestly believe that government officials hate blacks so much that they would destroy a city. It’s just not rational. This charge is about no spur of the moment crime of opportunity - unless you’re willing to believe that racist government officials just happened to have some dynamite laying about and decided this was their big chance, without regard to the consequences to the rest of the city.”
In my opinion, the fact that people fail to believe that there is an evil that exists that will sacrifice a group of people for the sake of power and financial gain, no matter who it effects (white, black, hispanic, caucasian, children, et cetera) and most definitely without regard to the consequences to anyone who might be unfortunate enough to be in the midst of such actions is amazing to me ! ! !
How many times will it happen through out history before the veil of denial will be lifted? Must there be yet another Holocaust (as has just occurred in Rawanda) or another war (such as the war our troops are fighting for absolutely no reason other than to line the pockets of the rich with yet more cash)?
“He focused, predictably, on the African Americans who were affected by Katrina.”
And?????? Is it possible, ever, for Caucasians to acknowledge how dispproportinately African-Americans are represented in the media?
Is it possible that for one moment Caucasians can begin to experience the invisibility that occurs when a story is told and YOU are not included in it?
Please watch the documentary, there were lots of Caucasian’s represented in it. It’s not a Black and White issue (don’t believe the hype) it’s a rich and poor issue. If Caucasians were predominantly poor and undereducated they would be just as discriminated against, oppressed and ignored.
Those of us who have faith in Christ and who have been saved by his grace should remember and acknowledge that the war is spiritual. There is nothing, nothing that I put past the “powers that be” because I know which God they serve.
I think it would definitely do you good to suspend with any misconceptions that you may have had that government officials hate “blacks” and begin to open yourself up to the possibility that what is in operation in the government is a love of power and money and a willingness to do whatever it takes to maintain and preserve it. Once you begin to understand such a mindset, you can then begin to understand that what may seem like one thing on the surface can turn out to be an entirely different thing when one begins to look indepth ( and it is often designed that way).
Need I remind you of the history of America? Shall we revisit what happened to the American Indians, the African slaves — there has never been restitution to these people and there never will be. The effects of such atrocities are far reaching and have been revisited upon generations. Just as many wealthy Caucasians continue to enjoy wealth and opportunities which were derived from their forefathers to this day.
Daniel 8:23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
May the grace of Jesus be upon us as we struggle to face painful truths,
Sincerely
Sabine F.
[I had a rather long rant here, some of which was actually pertinent, but not all. I decided to remove it after about 5 minutes to reconsider my motives and also whether my reply glorified God. If you happened to be on the site and already read it - sorry. Here's the only part I'm leaving, for now:]
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
May the grace of Jesus be upon us as we struggle to face painful truths,
Sincerely,
Laura
By the way, “Caucasians” ? Sheesh, who talks like that? I’ve never once heard the word “Caucasian” used in conversation, and only seen it on forms. In conversation, don’t you just refer to “whites” and “blacks” maybe modifying it with “folks” to soften it up?
Hi Laura,
Actually I didn’t see your original post. Good for me, huh?
“By the way, “Caucasians” ? Sheesh, who talks like that? I’ve never once heard the word “Caucasian” used in conversation, and only seen it on forms. In conversation, don’t you just refer to “whites” and “blacks” maybe modifying it with “folks” to soften it up?”
Isn’t perception the craziest thing? I thought the fact that you used “blacks and white” was highly offensive, as I don’t know a single person in the world who is the color “black” and I don’t know a single person in the world who is “white” - however I used it in my response to try to relate to you where you were.
Anyway, the fact that we in America get lost in racial debates is a pet peeve of mine. The true issue is never about color or race, and I think the government with the help of the media purposely feeds this issue so that it can be kept a live, while other more important issues that will adversely affect us all - because we are all human beings - get ignored.
I myself don’t care how many people died in New Orleans that were “white”, “black”, “asian” or any other race. What happened in New Orleans was a tragedy and the American government should be highly ashamed of itself.
I know that on that point, you and I agree.
My the Grace of Christ be Upon us,
Sabine
It doesn’t matter whether this is a power thing or a black/white thing, for Spike Lee it is a white against black thing. I saw him on a talk show a while back and he really, really, really believes that white USA blew up the levees to destroy poor black folk.
First of all, no one ever sees these black folk and I doubt anyone in Washington even knew they existed. Certainly they are not worth the dynamite used to blow up the levees. Christian love will not solve their problems which are in fact casued by power-hungry greedy BLACK politicians.
If you want to know who is to blame for the plight of blacks in America -it is blacks themselves.
I wish prayer and love is all that we would need to help them out. It isn’t.