Why were people offended when Mayor Nagin called New Orleans Chocolate City if...?

Question

Many people say that where the levees broke & where most of the flooding was where the poor black people lived & many of us black people drowned. & the white people got offended when he said that, & the Black people are having trouble with FEMA, but the white people aren't. Many Blacks felt let down by the government so that's why they decided not to come back to New Orleans, & the white people got the nerve to get offended by one phrase. All Mayor Nagin was trying to do was get his Black people to come back to New Orleans. We Black people were known for our 2nd lines, our cooking, Jazz music, the Zulu parades, & all the other special stuff. We Black people kept New Orleans alive. Now am I right or wrong?

Answer 1

While I respect your views and opinions, I was offended by Nagin's comments. It was just that his comment about a chocolate city made it seem that whites and other non-black people are not welcome in new New Orleans. Upon further thought, I realized that Nagin probably just wants all of the people who were displaced and otherwised tortured by Katrina to come back and restore New Orleans to the great city it once was. I still think that his comments were in poor taste, as they can easily be misunderstood. Imagine if the mayor of Denver made comments after their blizzards last month about bringing Denver back to it's Vanilla roots. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would go crazy! Just a little double standard that fits into the category of Miss Black America and the United ***** College Fund.

Answer 2

Black people are awesome. I don't think people liked the statement because Nagin seemed to marginalizing his white constituents (who are now the majority population) who also lost a lot of their homes and property.

When you think of white people you probably assume well to do middle class and upper middle class people but there were plenty of poor whites who lost everything during Katrina too. They may have also felt left out because Nagin seemed to be calling back only the black residents of the city.

So essentially the statement just marginalized way too many groups and it isnt something that the mayor of a city based on diversity should have said after a huge disaster like katrina.

Also the culture in New Orleans was able to happen not only because of blacks, but because of the merging of cultures that was acceptable in that area for hundreds of years. Blacks definitely contributed but the beauty of the city was that it was an example of what positive things can be done when we set aside our bigotry and let cultures mix freely.

Answer 3

As a white person who spent a lot of time in the Crescent City, I was a bit offended by his comments. I've certainly gotten over it, and it's long since time to move on and rebuild New Orleans into an even greater city.

The great thing about New Orleans is the blend of cultures, a blend that hasn't taken hold elsewhere in the country. Blacks have certainly influenced the culture deeply, but the French and Spanish had a lot to do with it too.

Answer 4

He can get away with it because the people that voted for him are just as racist as he is. In order to win an election you need a majority to vote for you so you can say the majority of the people in New Orleans are racist and don't deserve another cent of our tourist money. I say boycott New Orleans. You also have to ackowledge the fact that Nagin is a defeatist, liberal idiot, and according to the majority issue I mentioned above then the majority of the people in New Orleans must be the same thing.

Answer 5

Nagin is an idiot and I'm not sure about you.

I know plenty of white people that have had problems with FEMA, housing and are still having problems getting back on their feet.

What a cruel statement. Do you know any white people that suffered through the storm?

Answer 6

I just think it was offensive to those who aren't black. Black or African American's would have been angered if that comment was the other way around. It was just offensive and racist towards whites.
As a white female, I can empathize with African Americans stuggles and feel guilt from our history. However, when African Americans hold things against me personally or use the color of their skin to get as much sympathy, attention, and money from it I have little respect for them.

Answer 7

I wasn't offended at all, but I did think it wasn't really the most tactful thing for him to say. I think that really hurt his reputation.

I think a lot of it had to do with the way handled the situation after his comment.

But, in any case, I love New Orleans. Awesome city.

Answer 8

Because it was a racist statement. Imagine if a white politican said something like that, the blacks would be calling for his head on a silver platter. I think you are nothing, but a racist black.

Answer 9

Nagin was,and still is an IDIOT

Answer 10

it showed his racist ways because he didn't want whites in the city