Author: Steve Sabludowsky
1/16/2006 —“Nagin’s Chocolate New Orleans”
Oh, my gosh.
Even if Ray Nagin is playing to an African American crowd during a highly-emotional time, Chocolate New Orleans is not politically correct. And, it is absolutely not good politics considering the Mayor is running for re-election.
According to the Times Picayune, Nagin said, “"We ask black people ... It´s time for us to come together. It´s time for us to rebuild New Orleans — the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans," Nagin said Monday. "This city will be a majority African American city. It´s the way God wants it to be. You can´t have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn´t be New Orleans."
Chocolate?
Then again, that is Ray Nagin.
When he first took office, his own press secretary, Patrick Evans said at that time that Nagin made made him “cringe”.
That’s because you never knew what he was going to say. And, that’s because, Ray Nagin is the “City´s Real Mc Coy. In many respects, that´s exactly what people love and some hate about him.
He was the first major black political figure to question the black infrastructure about its own role in stopping crime. Today he seemed to send mixed messages to a city that is on the brink of failure and possible greatness.
Nagin made controversial statements--especially for a Mayor-- who needs the good graces of the President of the United States for the City of New Orleans, George Bush. He also did not show he was the captain of his own ship. Some might say, that he seemed to take a page out of Franklin Graham and Pat Robertson by saying, "Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it´s destroyed and put stress on this country. Surely he doesn´t approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We´re not taking care of ourselves."
Whether Nagin wants the city to be “chocolate or not, he stayed the course on his message that has given to the black community throughout his administration—even during last year’s Martin Luther King Day celebrations.
"It´s time for all of us good folk to stand up and say we´re tired of the violence. We´re tired of black folks killing each other "
"Dr. King, if he was here today, he would be talking to us about this problem. The problem we have among ourselves,".
Referring to the internal political struggles of the city among the African American community Nagin said, "most of the time tearing each other down publicly for the delight of many."
Yes, “Chocolate Nagin” makes us all cringe. He has some far-out philosophies that others like Robertson and Billy Graham’s son have taken a beating in the media. He says things that blacks and whites applaud but then question his double standard and even his political motivations or compass.
Yet, he calls it as he sees it—whether it be for the better or for the worse for him, politically. He is as colorful as New Orleans can be—assuming chocolate is indeed a color.
How about making New Orleans a Wonder Bread city?
:)