AFRICAN-AMERICANS URGED TO CONTRIBUTE TO HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF
Long Beach, CA (BlackNews.com) - Recent footage of the gulf coast resembles what one would expect to see in a third world country. There are countless individuals, mostly Blacks, stranded in the middle of nowhere with no shelter, no food, and no clean water.
The situation is so catastrophic that many have been waiting for days to be rescued. Thousands of dead bodies are floating everywhere, contamination is widespread, and looters are forced to steal from abandoned stores.
Many African-Americans wonder what they can do, and the answer is simple:
1) Donate money to Red Cross (www.redcross.org) or any other trustworthy charity; and/or
2) Volunteer to help by contacting the USA Freedom Corps (www.usafreedomcorps.gov)
Black leaders are encouraged to urge federal officials to do everything they can to rescue victims. So far, officials have received criticism for being slow to deploy enough supplies and troops. President Bush is getting heat because he waited two whole days after the hurricane struck before he decided to return from his vacation.
Reportedly, nearly 1/3 of the troops that are on-hand have been designated to focus entirely on capturing looters. Many criticize this decision, saying that these troops need to help rescue the thousands of stranded victims that will soon die of hunger and thirst.
Many say that the food in these stores will rot anyways, so looters may as well take advantage of it. Others say that people are starving and have no other option to resort to.
Dante Lee of BlackNews.com, comments, "As for the stealing of TVs and DVD players, I would agree that this is inexcusable. However, food and drinks are critical to their survival."
Lee continues, "But these aren't the only necessities in life - What about baby diapers, toilet tissue, shoes, dry clothes? People have to do what they can to survive."
In addition to donating to charities and volunteering time and energy, African-Americans are encouraged in the near future to donate to some of the Black-owned businesses/organizations that have been affected. Here are just a few:
BLACK BUSINESSES
Black Collegian Magazine
140 Carondelet St
New Orleans, LA 70130
www.imdiversity.com
Juneteenth.com
6751 Dorchester Street
New Orleans, LA 70126
BLACK COLLEGES
Dillard University
2601 Gentilly Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70122
www.dillard.edu
Xavier University
3812 Pine Street
New Orleans, LA 70125
www.xula.edu
Southern University at New Orleans
6400 Press Drive
New Orleans, LA 70126
www.suno.edu
BLACK NEWSPAPERS
Louisiana Weekly
P.O. Box 8628
New Orleans, LA 70182
www.louisianaweekly.com
The New Orleans Tribune
2317 Esplanade Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
www.neworleanstribune.com
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Backstreet Cultural Museum
1116 St. Claude Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
www.backstreetculturalmuseum.com
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc.
1205 N. Rampart Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
www.nojhf.org
Black Arts National Diaspora
4008 Odin Street
New Orleans, LA 70126
Urban League of Greater New Orleans
2322 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
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