More on Media Racism (UPDATED)

If this next passage is true--and, yes, we now have to say that about things we didn't personally witness--then why wouldn't the big media believe such things coming out of the mouth of the Chief Superintendent of Police of the city?

Contributing to the impression of lawlessness, Police Chief [sic] Eddie Compass said officers found themselves in multiple shoot-outs inside both shelters, and were forced to race toward muzzle flashes through the dark to disarm the criminals; snipers fired at doctors and soldiers from downtown high-rises, he said.

In interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Compass reported rapes of babies, and Mayor Ray Nagin spoke of "hundreds of armed gang members" killing and raping people inside the Superdome. [SNIP]

The mayor told Winfrey the crowd has descended to an "almost animalistic state."

As I said to one of my commenters in the first post, I think that Chief Superintendent Compass' (and Mayor Ray Nagin's) word on alleged black misbehavior would have been questioned and/or invesigated had they been white; that is certainly racism, but a weird version of it.

Face it. Most of the big media are being castigated for racism because they took a bunch of black folks at their word.

It's a strange world we live in.

Aside: NO Chief Superintendent of Police Compass, by definition, should have been the authoritive voice on what was going on in his city or, if information was hard for him to obtain (understandably), he should have said so instead of passing rumors around, as if he were in high school. One would guess that his resignation from his post was designed to gain back whatever shred of dignity might be available to him.

UPDATE: At last, someone gets my point. Thanks, Tyrone.

UPDATE: The commenters in this post point to the fact that I need to clear up some confusion that may exist from my words.

I'm not saying that Nagin and Compass got a pass from the Big Media for their words regarding the Superdome and the Convention Center. I am saying that those who have chastised the Big Media for alleged racism on the same subject--that means some observers in both types of media--are giving Nagin and Compass a pass.

Bringing a part of one of my comments to the front might help:

To me, not assigning just as much--or more--blame to Compass and Nagin for feeding the Big Press bogus info is racist itself. These are men who had great responsibilities and who, IMO, shirked them. Were they white, they'd be hung out to dry. But since they're black, they get a pass [from those accusing the Big Media of racism]. They're treated as if they are children--as if not that much is expected of them anyway.

I am prepared for some not be happy about my take on this. It's not as though it's the first time.

Previous Post:

Katrina: Maybe Not Racism

Comments

[Justin]

What I find interesting is that this story exposed the biases of both the left- and right-leaning media. The right used it as proof of the breakdown of civil society and that poor black people are poor because they have no discipline, and the left used it as an example that capitalism has left black people behind (i.e., they are like children, incapable of helping themselves), and the only solution is for massive government intervention (massive oversimplification of the media spectrum, but I think that's the jist).

[langtry]

Let's be honest: When Oprah talks, people listen. And Oprah's reporting on Katrina was probably the single sloppiest piece of journalism I've seen in all the coverage of Katrina.

Oprah's intent was to reveal the deprivations suffered in New Orleans, and to place blame on the federal government. Each person she interviewed provided emotional testimony rather than reason on facts,and her platform provided an opportunity for Mayor Nagin and Chief Compass to rail against the evil Bush and Brown. What facts she did speak of were sloppy and incorrect, as she declared that Mayor Nagin had never left "his beloved New Orleans" and rode out the storm in the Superdome.

I guess when you are Oprah, or her producers, for that mater, what you believe to be true are the facts. Far be it for her to check on Nagin's whereabouts during the worst of the storm - he was hobnobbing with the Governor in Baton Rouge. Since "Everyone trusts Oprah," as her producer Ellen Rakieten stated, the press ran with her story instead of the facts.

Proof positive of the corruption of news when one confuses entertainment with journalism!

[langtry]

BTW, Baldilocks, what doyou think of the fact that the Congressional committee investigating the Katrina response allowed Governor Blanco to avoid questions regarding her actions up-to, during, and following the storm? Instead, she got to appeal for "job creation", and left with nary a question regarding her preparation for and response to the disaster. What gives?

[Anna]

Fox News is reporting that Compass did not actually resign. He was booted by Nagin and was just allowed to give the public preception of resigning.

[teal marie]

That's odd, I posted a comment this morning but its disappeared.
repeating:
I don't watch Oprah, but I know that millions take her word for gospel. Has she corrected this mistaken reportage on her show?

[Synova]

I think you've got it, Justin.

[torchy]

Oprah is a orchestrated consumer love-fest targetting housewives during the time period between dinner cooking and table setting. A journalist she aint. A place for half baked celebrity sex symbols to do furniture gymnastics.
As far as resignations go there are many reasons and sources, first of which comes from the individual wishing to escape a sinking ship or the result of having their efforts abused or diminished. The other reasons usually come from above in the chain of command. The bosses realize that the individual is a liability or can usefully deflect scutiny from themselves and ask for their resignation, usually after consultation. In the latter case the individual may be falling on their sword in exchange for some immediate or future benefit. In Compass case the only dignified reason for his resignation would be in the case where his efforts were being abused or diminished. I didn't see that happening, if anything he became a liability, useful tool or deserted a hopeless situation.

[torchy]

Justin- Silly me, I only recall the left leaning media racing to assign blame, using a catastrophe as a political bludgeon, early and often. I think the right-wing medias attempt to provide a broader view on what was to blame for the breakdown was in response to that, not as the result of any axe to grind against poor, undisciplined individuals. But we know the left has a mighty axe to grind against all things to their right, with a blade 100 miles wide. Any effort to provide balance to the left runs the risk of being tarred with the same emotionalism.

[wayne]

Julliette, I can't wait to see what you have to say about the ACLU and the media have done in getting the rest of the ABU GHRAIB photo's released.

Helgerstein (the black-robbed fascist responsible for this outrage) has commited an act of aggregious treason against the best of America. Our brothers in uniform have been betrayed and I pray the wrath of God falls on this abomination who calls himself a judge.

How much longer until all of us folks who have given years of our lives for this country finally step up and rearrange this country back to a God-fearing patriotic country without tyranny of traitors and communists.

We serve and give of our lives and a bunch of lazy, stupid, ignorant fools take the easy street their births have handed them and spit on those who gave it to them.

We take care of our problems at home. We do not cast our dirty laundry out to inflame a world that has been primed by all of our enemies both foreign and domestic and we do not hand out tools to our enemies that will get our soldiers slaughtered.

It's time we cast the traitors down, Juliette. It's time we became what our founding fathers were at Lexington and Concord: soldier-patriots who cast out the tyrants who cover themselves in red banners.

[Cobb]

I'm not surprised that Nagin has booted Compass. He's not the guy that I saw buddy-buddy with the Federal guy on TV and went around introducing the reporter to the various captains and experts on the ground.

I wouldn't suggest that anti-black racial stereotypes are out of the question simply because Compass is 'black' - that's like saying there are no anti-American Americans. And if there's any place you could expect to find that kind of sentiment, it would be in New Orleans.

And what goes further in justifying whitefolks saying something objectionable about blackfolks than having their own black expert backing their story? I don't expect that video journalists have the mental agility to navigate such delicacies, and so we were left with the dumbass story which only gets debunked at this late date. Again, this was to be expected.

I wrote on September 3:

As for the racial angle, what a surprise. All of the refugees were people who couldn't get out of Dodge when the word came down. Any and everybody I talked to in New Orleans this spring knew that the Superdome was going to be filled with people from the projects and people who take the bus. America might not be ready to look black poverty squarely in the eye, it's overloaded with symbolism. And it sure is uncomfortable looking at it day after day on the news. It's nothing new, give us a break with the wide-eyed astonishment.

New Orleans, like South Central Los Angeles, will not survive its bursting into the national consciousness in its true form. It will have been spun into new proportions by people who have never been there and don't know any of the people. There are only a few ways to reconcile that and I hope local bloggers do their share. Unfortunately, I don't know that there are any bloggers from the 9th Ward of New Orleans, nor that if there are, that they will be online anytime soon. I'll be looking out.

I've yet to hear any stories of bravery or heroism from inside the Superdome, for the same reasons I don't hear them about Iraq.

[Cobb]

That is to say that Compass wasn't the guy, but it was the Chief of police who acted admirably.

[baldilocks]

Cobb:

How did the mayor and the superintendent of police become "whitefolks' black expert?"

Thanks, however, for correcting the titles.

[Cobb]

I don't think Nagin was it, but surely Compass lent credibility to rumors of rape and rampant lawlessness. And in general, I would say that Bell's Rules were in operation. People had to consider both sides of the black opinion on that matter. Where Compass should have been the voice of reason, after all, he should know about reported crimes and arrests, he failed.

I'm saying race was a certain factor and what people wanted to hear and what they were willing to believe was key. Again, what should we expect to be the presumption about people who suffer from a catastrophe - that the savage beast within is about to be unleashed?

Nagin's first reaction to the looting was to say that there were lots of junkies on the streets willing to do whatever for their next fix. That's a whole lot more logical.

Anyway - Bell's Rules are here. Notably:

THIRD RULE
Few blacks avoid diminishment of racial standing, most of their statements abot racial condidtions being diluted and their recommendations of other blacks taken with a grain of salt. The ususal exception to this rule is the black person who publicly disparages or criticizes other blacks who are speaking or acting in ways that upset whites. Instantly, such statements are granted 'enhanced standing' even when the speaker has no special expertise or experience in the subject he or she is criticizing.

[baldilocks]

But the mayor of the city and, especially, the Superintendent of Police do have special expertise in what's happening in their city. Or they should.

The fact that they didn't really know what was going on and were spreading rumors should fall on their shoulders equally or harder than it does on that of the big media.

To me, not assigning just as much--or more--blame to Compass and Nagin for feeding the big press bogus info is racist itself. These are men who had great responsibilities and who, IMO, shirked them. Were they white, they'd be hung out to dry. But since they're black, they get a pass. They're treated as if they are children--as if not that much is expected of them anyway.

[DarkStar]

These are men who had great responsibilities and who, IMO, shirked them. Were they white, they'd be hung out to dry. But since they're black, they get a pass.

You know, the "But since they are Black, they get a pass" is getting to be a popular line, but it's bogus.

When the mics and cameras were first put on "Brownie", he said things that showed he didn't know what was going on.

When Nightline put the mics and cameras on the people who left New Orleans, those people placed the blame on Nagin's shoulders. Where was the "pass because he is Black" on that?

What it really comes down to is, you're complaining about partisans playing the partisan game. I'm NOT saying you are doing this on purpose to be a part of the partisan game.

But when those going through it are blaming Nagin, why pay attention to the media?

[baldilocks]

I wasn't clear, Darkstar. When I said the Nagin and Compass got a pass (for the bogus mayhem at the Superdome angle), I didn't mean that they got one from the Big Media or New Orleans natives. I'm saying that those who are hollering racism *at* the Big Media are giving Nagin and Compass a pass.

[DarkStar]

OK. Understood.

Now, for me, I've said elsewhere that Nagin and Blanco should face recall votes. As for Compass, the entire NOPD is corrupt and needs to be disbanded and reformed.

[baldilocks]

Hallelujah!

One of the few times we agree. :-)

[Janis Gore]

Ms. Ochieng, I certainly hope that nothing I've said on my blog would give you the impression that Compass and Nagin get a pass.

Their statements to the media were, to me, both incomprehensible and irresponsible. And further, show a disconnect between them and a good number of their citizens.

My husband and I live 180 miles from New Orleans. It was our largest major city nearby. We flew out of New Orleans, visited friends in New Orleans, and went to places besides Antoine's and Bourbon Street. My husband has been in and out of New Orleans for 30 years. I have been in and out for 12. Not that we've toured the Sixth Ward, mind.

I have kept an eye on the Times-Picayune or nola.com since it came online.

So, when these exaggerated reports started coming across, I was skeptical. Yes, there are some mean SOBs in New Orleans, and some of them are police. Yes, there are a lot of dependent people in New Orleans, but that never meant they'd stand by while others suffered.

Compass and Nagin both need to be grilled relentlessly as to why they spoke as they did. To this day I don't understand.

I have no political axe to grind at all.

[iamfelix]

I found your posts on this subject fascinating (and the commentary as well). All the hurricane/relief talk made me think of my mother talking about the deadly 1953 tornado in Flint, MI (I was an infant at the time, and still live in MI). I began browsing about the web for info on it, and found this nursing education site - it's a piece on the "common misconceptions about disasters" and their aftermath!
http://www.nursingceu.com/courses/125/index_nceu.html

Showing that disaster relief, like the course of true love, ne'er does run smooth.