What Pictures of the Looters really may say (BARF)

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | September 1, 2005 | Lucia Herndon

[AbeKrieger]

I knew it would happen - just didn't know when.

I'm talking about television news footage of looters played over and over in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Looting occurs whenever law and order breaks down as a result of disasters natural or manmade. But since the advent of television, looting seems to be a black thing. From the Watts riots in the 1960s to today, you can count on pictures of black folk hightailing it away from some store with electronic appliances, jewelry and furniture.

So while reporters from 24-hour TV news channels poured into the area almost as fast as the rising waters, I didn't have long to wait for the looting story to flash on my television screen. And even though it was expected, I found myself a little sad. But mostly mad.

We journalists have a collective knee-jerk reaction in certain situations, disasters especially. We look for people, things, quotes that will convey what we want or need to convey. But overuse of this practice leads to cliche and stereotype.

In Iowa, where tornadoes are a summertime surety, reporters are always looking for someone to say that the barn-flattening winds sounded like a freight train. At my old newspaper, the first reporter to get that quote was treated to a beer after work.

For television reporters, shots of blacks looting are quick, easy and downright expected.

New Orleans is more than a party-time tourist destination. It's a city where two-thirds of the population is black, so I'm not surprised to see black people looting. Many are poor: The median income for whites is a low $31,971; for blacks it's a subterranean $11,332. Truth is, life in the Big Easy has never been that way for many.

My question is, are blacks really the only looters? Or are they the only ones deemed worthy of camera time? Does 30 seconds of tape, rewound and replayed, tell the whole story? If pictures of looters never made it onto the air, would viewers be deprived of crucial information? Do these images advance the story of the plight of people?

Or do they play to stereotype, prejudice and fear?

Yes, stealing for profit and personal gain is wrong. And I hope those who decided to take advantage of a disaster to haul off flat-screen televisions and DVD players find no way to profit from their theft.

But during a devastating disaster like this, good, law-abiding citizens may do things they would never do normally. On TV I saw people carrying what appeared to be groceries, water, and bags of ice. With no water, power, or way out of town, it looked to me that the "looters" were trying to survive rather than upgrade their stereo system.

Before you say "I would never," just remember that's pretty easy to say and believe as we sit in our comfortable, dry, air-conditioned homes with ice, water and food a few steps away. Hunger to us means we haven't eaten in a couple of hours.

Think about it: Water's at your knees, kids are hungry and thirsty. You'd call 911 if you had a phone and if someone would answer. How could I say that if this were my situation, I wouldn't be one of those people heading out of the Wal-Mart with things that could help my family survive?

So don't draw conclusions about the ways of black people from the few moments of "de rigueur" pictures of looters. Black citizens are also among the weary, the rescuers and the rescued, the resilient, the righteous... and the dead.

They just don't get much airtime.

[the OlLine Rebel]

"Does 30 seconds of tape, rewound and replayed, tell the whole story?"


Let's see; extremely high crime rates and gargantuan illegitimacy rates amongst urban blacks since the "enlightened" '60s indicate that it might be.

[COUNTrecount]

LOL!!

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

For television reporters, shots of blacks looting are quick, easy and downright expected.

But the looting shots weren't staged...they really happened. It is news.

[garyhope]

Good point. And true.

[Raycpa]

What are you going do to with a big screen television set in the middle of NO right now? Take it with you on the rescue boat?

[Rutles4Ever]

LOL!

[ElCapusto]

Next time these Libs. talk about gun control we must shove this right down their throats.

Bingo and bullseye!!!!!!!!!!!

[cowboyway]

My question is, are blacks really the only looters? Or are they the only ones deemed worthy of camera time?

Bottom line: the camera is color blind.

If there were whites, hispanics, asians, indigenous or any other non-black looters, the camera would show them too.

This reporter seems to suggest that there is a media conspiracy to edit out any scenes of looting by any race except blacks.

[Gefreiter]

fb,
My wife used to make fun of me because I would store water.

I explained to her that we have plenty of canned or preserved foods, prolly for 2 weeks, just sitting around anyway. But if there's no water in a crisis, there's no water and none coming. So I store some.

She hasn't brought it up lately.

[ElCapusto]

New Orleans is more than a party-time tourist destination.

Now it's nothing and will forever remain so.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Exactly. I can't believe these people a) didn't have a decent amount of food around that they took w/them as they had to escape (hell, some people are way up high in apt's that you know didn't get the flood waters) b) really need to gather tons of food at once as many are.

It's LOOTING - stealing, down to the nitty-gritty. Sorry, taking everything you can even if it's legit foodstuff is greedy stealing, regardless of your hardships.

Where's the sympathy for the people whose livelihoods are being further ruined by this behavior? It's insult to injury.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Lucia Herndon, stupid RAT reporter

My question is, are blacks really the only looters?

Haa!

No, the film you are watching is the negative. Get a hold of the real film and the looters are all white.

Do these images advance the story of the plight of people?

Haaa! Haaaaaaaa!

Their plight is how quick can they set up an EBAY account to pawn off their diamonds and rubies. Maybe they can do that soon with their shiny new stolen computer.

good, law-abiding citizens may do things they would never do normally.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Oh my God.

And, scummy, law-breaking thugs will do things they normally do every day!

On TV I saw people carrying what appeared to be groceries, water, and bags of ice.

Maybe that is because the new shiny diamond rings blinded your eye sight and you were not seeing straight!

Incredible RAT stupidity.

Before anybody flames me, I, my wife, and my 48 cousins are all minorities. This is typical "defensive black RAT Jesse Jackass cover-your-ass" stupidity. From Philadelphia, what do you expect?

[Graybeard58]

But during a devastating disaster like this, good, law-abiding citizens may do things they would never do normally

I can say without hesitation, I would never steal a tv, vcr, dvd etc.

I would steal food or water and would still be a thief though.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Now THERE'S a "stereotype" that is perfectly correct.

[Texas_Conservative2]

Oh really ???

So I can go to LA and start breaking into everyones homes and as long as I only steal their water and food it isn't against the law?

I guess it's ok for those roaming bands of gun toting thugs to break into the childrens hospital and steal their food and water supplies too, right ?

Cause according to you stealing what you need is ok in LA !

Good freaking grief, I can't believe I live on the same planet with people like this!

[muawiyah]

You apparantly have not bothered to read through the extensive threads where the question of acquiring necessities during a natural disaster in Louisiana is addressed.

It ain't against the law to take necessities for life under those conditions. It is not looting in Louisiana.

[jwalsh07]

"It's a city where two-thirds of the population is black, so I'm not surprised to see black people looting."

First of all I think this statement is entirley accurate and second of all I think it is highly probable that the remaining citizens in New orleans are more than two thirds black.

Having said that it should be noted that there is a difference between looting and living off the land. I have no problem with the latter and big problems with the former.

[Red Badger]

I decided yesterdau to stop calling them looters and refer to them as DEMOCRAT SHOPPERS. No racism, no guilt, just fact.........

[daybreakcoming]

FGS! They are shooting at the evac helicopters at the Super Dome now. This is war.