The Chocolate City
When New Orleans Mayor Ray “What buses?” Nagin made his controversial remarks about New Orleans, I got really hungry.
We as black people, it’s time, it’s time for us to come together. It’s time for us to rebuild a New Orleans, the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans and I don’t care what people are saying uptown or wherever they are, this city will be chocolate at the end of the day.
Ray Nagin
Mmm… chocolate city.
Wait a minute… did he really just say that? Somehow I don’t think a while man would get away with saying “This city will be snow white at the end of the day,” and nor should he! Such a remark is racist and completely uncalled for.
Called on his racist remarks, Nagin made a false apology.
“I’m really sorry that some people took that they way they did, and that was not my intention,” the mayor said. “I say everybody’s welcome.”
Hey CNN… saying that you’re sorry that people were offended is not an apology!
Then, Nagin tries to “explain” his remarks.
MAYOR RAY NAGIN: Do you know anything about chocolate?
REPORTER: I’m asking you.
NAGIN: I’m asking you
NAGIN: Do you know anything chocolate? How do you make chocolate? You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk, and it becomes a delicious drink. That’s the chocolate I’m talking about.
The Political Teen: Nagin Explains Chocolate Comment
Hm… plausable… but only if he hadn’t prefaced his statement with “we as black people.” Sorry… no dice. Clearly Nagin’s problem was that the demographic of New Orleans has shifted towards a white population in the aftermath of the storm. He’s unhappy with this, and he wants to take the city back for his black brothers and sisters. He just didn’t intend for anyone outside “the family” to hear his remarks.
Heh… did you see Jon Stewart the other night? He recommends brittle as a better construction material than chocolate. Mre likely to hold up in the hot gulf coast summers.
this is the same guy time magazine considered as a person of the year. HA what a gyp that would have been.
From a chocolate perspective, when I saw this happening on the evening news, the only thing I could do was place my face in my hands and shake my head in disbelief.
I could not believe this man was actually saying what he was saying, out loud, in public, with news cameras everywhere.
I also heard his dark chocolate/milk clarification and I knew that he was just trying to regain some footing.
I believe the incidents surrounding Katrina really hurt him on a personal level, as well as a lot of other African Americans, who believe they didn’t receive the support they deserved because of their skin color.
When he made that speech, I believe that’s the place he was coming from, that hurt. I’m not defending him, just hoping to provide another perspective.
I don’t believe he intended it to come out sounding so racist, though I think he was trying to say something along the lines of “You (the, gov’t, didn’t help us cuz we were black, well guess what? N.O. is still going to be black, and even blacker than ever…so stick that where the sun don’t shine.” Only my opinion though.
At the end of the day, the only thing we can do is hope that people learn from past mistakes, move forward, and learn to love and respect each other no matter what.
Teli–
While I would agree with you that I don’t think it was intended to be racist, it in fact, was. Trent Lott lost his job for less. I’m not offended because that would be stupid. I DO question the mans mental stability though. He did, after all, see his city go to pot in front of his eyes. That would likely affect me.
Coming from someone who is from New Orleans and knowing the city as I do.. Kanye West had no business mouthing off like he did because what he failed to realize is that the 40% of the city who lived in the French Quarter and the downtown area who yes are black couldn’t get out of the city because they had no MEANS to get out.. Ray Nagins Irresponsibilty with his comments only proves that race is only coming to the front after the storm… The city of New Orleans has a long history of tolerance of other races..To the mayor of New Orleans all I can say is start looking for another job.. Hey, I hear McDonald’s are offering a signing bonus…
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Nagin’s comments are racist. Of course, it is downplayed when it comes from a person of color. However, if a white person made the same type of comment - the blacks would be marching in Washington protesting and making demands. Thank goodness the other races are intelligent enough to consider the source and move on with life. The New Orleans refugees have been handed a “silver platter” since Katrina and still want more! If they would get out and work, they could accomplish more in life.
Are you a New Orleans refugee? If not, then you have no room to comment on what they’ve “been handed.”
Personally, I just think you have a twig too far up your nether regions to realize that those affected by Katrina (black or white) are still in a worse off place than you are right now.
You probably should think before you speak, lest you come off looking like a heartless p***k.
I have to agree with Bandit. I was in Pascagoula and Gulfport, MS in September for storm cleanup for 3 weeks. It will be a very long time before anything is normal and unless you’ve been there you have no idea.
Still, I think its a very creative way of him to try and talk himself out of this one. Chocolate milk…LOL. Anyway, if he really wants to know how to make chocolate milk he should go to http://www.chocolatecakerecipes.org! Hahahaha!
Greetings.
Ray made a huge mistake and he knows it. But wouldn’t anyone who is in a position of responsibility to clean up that mess be disgusted, especially with all the “help” from federal and state officials. I just hope there is soon some positive action that takes place to turn the tide and really start the recovery effort. A lot of big name individuals have done their part so far. But you can bet if there is a tremedous revival that the feds will be right there to take the credit!
thanks