This trip to New Orleans was a trip outside the comfort zone

By BONNIE DEUTSCH BURDMAN and ROY THOMAS

When is a trip to the “Big Easy” not easy? Sure, it’s physically not easy to work on rehabilitating a damaged home, as countless, unselfish volunteers from the Valley and beyond have been doing since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit New Orleans nearly four years ago. But in our case, the real answer is when we are forced to confront some pretty hard truths.

This is exactly what we did on a recent national African-American/Jewish community relations mission to New Orleans sponsored by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national umbrella body for Jewish organizations engaged in public policy and community relations. A pair of Jewish and African-American community leaders from 10 cities around the country gathered to investigate the intersection of race and poverty, to discuss effective community organizing strategies, and to build relationships to foster increased collaboration and solidarity at the grass roots across the nation.

Storms uncover truth

New Orleans provided the perfect lens through which to examine the challenges of racial and economic inequality. The destruction of the hurricanes, and the remaining devastation and inhabitability of many areas of the city, laid bare the poisonous realities of persistent racism and economic injustice in our country.

At first glance, it would seem unlikely that such a mission would take place. Jewish racism and African-American anti-Semitism are all too prevalent today, and by many accounts, are on the rise.

However, while we do not always agree on every policy issue, no two minority groups have better understood the plight and have fought more on behalf of the less fortunate. We have lived shared stories of slavery and diaspora, persecution, and perseverance. From individual activists to the highest levels of the federal government, African-American and Jewish coalitions have played crucial roles in social movements throughout history, informed by the same fundamental cultural foundation – a profound commitment to advocacy and social justice.

As social advocates, we are often asked what are some of the major issues facing our community. For us, the answer is simple. We must take immediate and decisive action to end poverty and hunger, both here in the Valley and across the country. Scripture teaches that “There Shall be No Needy Among You.” Although this means different things for different people, we do agree that this simple verse emphasizes the role of the community in watching over the most vulnerable.

Getting to the core

No one would doubt the problem of poverty, but we are often asked, “why should we do more?” Aren’t we all already doing a great deal to help the hungry and the homeless?” It is true that there are numerous initiatives and volunteer efforts in place to help the neediest, but these programs and projects do little to combat poverty at its core.

In New Orleans, as we met with community leaders and organizers, first responders, social justice advocates, academics, clergy, media, public officials, and average victims of the storm, one whose home we helped to rebuild, we learned how to begin to address this core problem and work together more effectively in the fight against poverty and racial inequality.

We learned that so many among us are “outsiders” and either do not have a voice, or do not know how to effectively use their voices. As a result, perhaps through our shared connection to bondage and persecution – our understanding of what it means to be an outsider – we must fight for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

We learned that we need to challenge unjust structures, fomented by racism, that torment the most vulnerable among us. Yes, we all have a responsibility to work hard and provide for ourselves and our families, but sometimes, this just is not enough. While the storm did not discriminate in its path of destruction, the disparate levels of recovery between the poorer, mostly African-American neighborhoods and the middle and upper class non-minority sections of the city are most palpable.

A valuable lesson

And, in one of the most segregated cities in the country, we learned that unless we step outside of our comfort zones and make race relationships intentional, communities as a whole are destined for failure. Could there be a more important lesson for the Valley today as we are all struggling with shrinking, segregated populations and dwindling resources.

In the coming months, we plan to sponsor a series of programs and work on various community initiatives to share these lessons, to confront the myriad of challenges in the Valley head on, and to work together more effectively against poverty and racial inequality. We encourage all to participate.

We heard a recurring theme during our time in New Orleans that Katrina was somewhat of a “blessing.” In the immediate aftermath of the storm, people came together and racial distrust was lessened a bit. Sadly, the racial and economic divide in the Big Easy has broadened again over time, hindering further recovery efforts. We cannot wait for a natural disaster to bring us together here in the Mahoning Valley. We must confront our respective prejudices in order to work together toward a more just future, not as African-Americans or as Jews, but as neighbors and friends. Hard truths indeed.

X Bonnie Deutsch Burdman is Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs,Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, and Roy Thomas is President RST Research, and Community Activist.