HURRICANE KATRINA DOC CHRONICLES RACE AGAINST TIME AND TRAGEDY

As someone named after a hurricane and hearing stories of how my Mom survived bringing me into this world, these types of documentaries always hit different.  Like most life changing cultural disasters occurring in one’s life, the vivid recollection of when Hurricane Katrina hit and how those close to me with loved ones were affected by its impact and aftermath still sear my spirit.

Directed by Traci Curry and Miles Estey, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time is a cinematic time travel documentary taking audiences to an unprecedented tragedy which demonstrates America’s lack of concern for Black people through images, witness accounts, and interviews.

Chronicled through five harrowing and enlightening episodes, the filmmakers share events leading up to, during and after the storm.  Remember when Kanye West was side-by-side with SNL star Mike Myers when he unapologetically stated “…George Bush hates Black people ?”  It was a sentiment shared by many in New Orleans as they struggled to seek shelter, food and just common human dignity.  All aghast to the Commander-in-Chief flying over the Big Easy without stepping one boot on the ground.  How much clearer could one be intentionally or unintentionally to let a whole sector of human beings know you could care less without uttering one word?

Land is immensely important, but particularly to Black people.  Our ancestors fought and were murdered attempting to protect their most precious possession commodity. Like my Mom and those before her would often repeat to me as a child, land and an education are the two things no one can ever take away.

Episode One taps into the anxiety of droves of people trying to outrun a storm or stay put amidst the calmness that happens right before a storm takes hold. Subsequent episodes highlight issues/clashes with FEMA, local, federal government institutions and representatives, lack of  first responders equipped to handle this type of disaster, calling citizens refugees, inadequate lack of aftermath response time and a Road Home Program becoming the road to nowhere leaving many residents unable to rebuild.

The visceral and traumatic response to this documentary will trigger the same innate emotions being felt today with our current state of political affairs as it relates to Black people and immigrants. One will be reminded when you are poor in America, you are not free. One will be reminded of Hurricane Betsy in the 60’s where the levees broke. Reminded of how funds were allocated  to build higher levees that weren’t done properly. Reminded how officials knew levees would fail and the new ones weren’t finished resulting in a catastrophic architectural failure by the Army Corps of Engineers. Not to mention with global warming, the rebuilt levees still won’t protect the citizens as it could be higher with even stronger winds.

After Katrina, citizens were forcibly sent out of the city when martial law was declared, resulting in over 1, 392 lives lost.  Katrina wasn’t a crime problem, it was a evacuation problem that enforced the gut feeling that Black people have lived with for centuries, – in order to destroy a sector of people, you have to take away their humanity.  Yet, 20 years later, the city of New Orleans is still recovering, but the indomitable spirit of those born and raised there will never give up on themselves or the city their call home.

Hurricane Katina: Race Against Time is stellar, timely and invigorating filmmaking with subtle reminders of what humanity looks like and how it can be challenged in unimaginable ways.