Why Do We Need a Class Analysis?

History is important because it shows us the mistakes we have made in the past, pointing out how we can prevent repeating them in the future. If we were to forget about slavery, racism would make little sense today. The power structure is the same as it was in the days of plantations; it is just under a new light. These capitalistic ways enable one people to be the power, victimizing the powerless. New Orleans has faced the same issues time and time again. However, few are putting together how the events are all connected: race. In Morris' article, following the Civil War, white leaders wanted barriers built so that water would not flood New Orleans if disaster were to strike. However, they needed a means of labor to build these walls, requesting the government to step back from protecting former slaves. Their requests were met, but the floods of 1927 showed racial tension as blacks were poor due to being abandoned by the plantation owners. Since there were no more plantations, there was no more protection of the blacks by default. The government then forgot about New Orleans. Under George W. Bush, flood walls were requested again, but due to his lack of class analysis, their requests were ignored. Disaster struck again through Katrina. If the Bush administry had looked further into the history of New Orleans, they would have seen the devastation of having no levees and how it affected society. "Speaker of the House Denni Hastert questioned the wisdom and worth of rebuilding New Orleans. No doubt many around the nation share his sentiments. It is hard to imagine he or anyone else would make similar remarks about San Francisco or Los Angeles, were they devastated by earthquake or fire" (Morris 3). Well of course not, these cities are not predominately black, with a history of racism and slavery. Ironically we were quick to help the 9/11 attacks when it was an “other” people to blame, the other being not white, who were killing our nation's whites, But when it’s our own citizens who are the “others”, and out citizens are black, we do not act quickly. We let them suffer, and blame the problems on them, the victim. “Sure they’re black, but the reason they didn’t get out in time is because they’re poor, not skin color” (Lavelle). Lavelle concludes that it is an issue of both race and class, as they are intertwined. They may have not gotten out in time because they were poor, but they’re poor because they’re black. We need to connect how class, race, and power are all intertwined.