FEATURE
 
 
Minority Report: New Orleans Today
by  thinkMTV

On Minority Report, from Jay-Z's most recent album, Kingdom Come, Jay-Z raps a somber and haunting tale of America's response to Hurricane Katrina. The track questions the governments response, and portrays Jay-Z's inner battle of whether he did enough (Sure I ponied up a mill/But I didn't give my time/So in reality I didn't give a dime/Or a damn/I just put my monies in hands/Of the same people/That left my people stranded/Nothing but a bandit/Left them folks abandoned)

The story Jay-Z tells is likely to bring the situation that still exists in New Orleans back to the forefront. Many Americans remain unsatisfied with the government's response to the dire situation that still exists in many neighborhoods of Louisiana. The fact that President Bush didn't mention New Orleans in his recent State of the Union Address acted as a confirmation to some that the government is disconnected from many of the issues that still loom on the ground since the hurricane struck on August 29th, 2005.

Over 1,800 people died due to Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing floods, resulting in over an estimated $80 billion in damage, making it both the deadliest and costliest natural disaster in US history.

There is still a lot to be done in and around New Orleans, and many organizations and individuals are stepping up to help out. What will you do? Find out what work still needs to be done and check out the resources to the right to learn how you can get involved.

Watch the 2 minute Black History Month video of Minority Report here, and see the lyrics below as you listen.

My people was poor
Before the hurricane came
Before the downpour poured
It's like when Mary J. sang
Everyday it rains
So everyday the pain
Went ignored and I'm sure
Ignorance was to blame
But life is a chain
Cause and affected
Ni**as off the chain
Because they affected
It's a dirty game
So whatever is effective
From weed to selling 'cane
Gotta put that in effect, sh*t
Wouldn't you loot
If you didn't have the loot
And your baby needed food
And you were stuck on the roof
And the helicopters swoop down
Just get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens
But he didn't scoop you
And the next 5 days
No help ensued
They called you a refugee
Cause you seek refuge
And the Commander in Chief
Just flew by
Didn't stop
Though he had a couple of seats
Just rude, Jet Blue he is not
Jet blew by the spot
But if he ran outta jet fuel
And just dropped, huh
That would've been something to watch
Helicopters doin' fly-bys
To take a couple of shots
Couple of portraits then ignored 'em
He'd be just another Bush
Surrounded by a couple of orchids
Poor kids just cause they was poor kids
Left 'em on their porches
Same ol' story in New Orleans
Silly rappers cause we got a couple of Porsches
And MTV stop by to film our fortresses
We forget the unfortunate
Sure I ponied up a mill
But I didn't give my time
So in reality I didn't give a dime
Or a damn
I just put my monies in hands
Of the same people
That left my people stranded
Nothing but a bandit
Left them folks abandoned
Damn, that money that we gave
Was just a Band-Aid
Can't say that we was better off
Then we was before
In synopsis
This is my minority report

So many times I'm covering my eyes
Peeking through my fingers trying to hide my
Frustration
Seems like we don't even care
So we send a lil money
Tell 'em it's alright
To be able to sleep at night
You would pay that price
While somebody's just lost
Their whole damn life
Seems like we don't even care
When it wasn't on the nightly news no more
Suddenly it didn't matter to you no more
They went in and almost nothing changed
Seems like we don't even care
What the hell were they there for
Seems like we don't even care

 on Mar 26,2007
 
 
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Tags: Katrina   New Orleans   natural disaster   racism   relief effort
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