Posted on 09/18/2005 7:49:57 AM PDT by twas
The Red Cross has been praised for its tireless efforts assisting storm victims in Middle Tennessee. But there are concerns in the black community that the organization lacks diversity, especially in an effort helping mostly black evacuees.
A number of minority churches and groups are offering to help, but say they've been left out.
The Red Cross Shelter in Franklin opened its doors to storm victims last week. It’s only one of two shelters in Middle Tennessee. The other is in Nashville.
Both shelters are in suburban areas, and the volunteers are predominately white, while the evacuees are almost all black.
Some members of the African-American community say that’s not good enough.
“When you're different and you're the lone person, you do feel different. When you're in crisis you like to have some familiarity there,” says Joyce Searcy with the Bethlehem Centers of Nashville.
Searcy says she tried to open up her community center as a shelter, but could not get approved by the Red Cross. It already had a list of 63 churches and community groups.
Searcy adds, “You know that big headline that we were gonna have six thousand evacuees and the list of shelters in the newspaper were in the suburbs and so the question is: why aren't these in our community?”
The Red Cross says it’s because the other groups were already on a pre-approved list. Their facilities had already been checked out, and the volunteers, already trained.
But Reverend Enoch Fuzz says in times like this, the volunteer corps should be more diverse, “Who in Brentwood would know where a black beauty shop or barber shop is?” asks Fuzz.
The Red Cross acknowledges most of it’s volunteers are white, but says training is open to anyone. Since then, Joyce Searcy went through training, and is signing up others.
A number of black churches are helping evacuees on their own even though it isn't through the Red Cross.
Also they are assembling teams of 50 take turns volunteering at the Red Cross shelters.
Once more, the criticism in the black community is external and not introspective.
These racists' are unbelievable! Does it really matter what color a humanitarian volunteer is?? WOW!
The ongoing victimization and racism in the ranks of blacks, or from their so-called "leaders" makes me ill. Maybe we just should have sent Al and Jesse down there to do all the rescuing, feeding, medical work, housing, and shelter-providing????
Maybe then these monger and morons would have to had something else to whine about.
"different'...I thought we were all Americans? Must be to some that is unacceptable.
Anything stopping the NAACP, the Black Churches, and the various other black organizations from setting up feeding centers, clothing centers, purchasing gift cards from Target, Home Depot, or any super markets and then donating these items?
White folks cant do anything right anymore.
Once more, a couple of yahoos announce that they are representative of "the black community."
What a pathetic bunch of whiners!!!!! This is just more proof that they see themselves and others not as individuals, but as a group. These jackasses seem to be saying that the help offered by the Red Cross is not enough because most providing that help are white. Again, the inference is drawn that whites are somehow racist. This type of "thinking" is what they've been encouraged to think by their "leaders" throughout the past decades. It's as if I, because I've gone through high school race riots started by blacks, see all blacks as violent, shiftless, lazy bums. If the Red Cross is not diverse enough for them, they can merely decline the help. I'm sure that there are other, more appreciative people to be helped.
Yeah, you're right. It appears to be some form of self-hatred against their own community.
Why not question the "Black Community" as to why more don't voluteer to help the Red Cross provide services?
My white brother received a whopping $130 from the Red Cross (he is a New Orleans evacuee)...I know there's racism in here somewhere, right?
Right?
Crickets chirping...
I guess it a black thing and they are right - I don't understand.
"The Red Cross acknowledges most of it’s volunteers are white, but says training is open to anyone."
And there it is.
Perhaps then, more black folks should be volunteers. That would alleviate this "disparity" in diversity.
Sheesh.
Ignorance can be forgiven... but embracing it is an abomination!
Why not question the "Black Community" as to why more don't voluteer to help the Red Cross provide services?
-----
That is what I was thinking. It is not whitey's fault that there are not more black volunteers. But, then again, I'm nieve so it probably is my fault somehow.
WTF is wrong with people? Seriously, WTF??
Anyone ask the question than why aren't there more blacks volunteering to help????
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.