By Greta Lieske
IV Leader Associate Editor, Feb. 21, 2008
A book discussion on “Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster,” by Michael Eric Dyson, will be noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 in the Fireplace Lounge , B-216.
The discussion will be facilitated by IVCC philosophy instructor Jason A. Beyer and will be offer attendees pizza and beverages. According to the book summary, ‘Come Hell or High Water’ “is an assessment of the meaning of Hurricane Katrina combined with interviews with survivors of the disaster and the author's knowledge of black migrations and government policy over decades. It also explores the legacy of black suffering in America since slavery.”
Beyer adds that the book uses Hurricane Katrina as “one specific example” to try to answer the bigger questions of how racism can affect “where people live or their economic status,” and “why, when Katrina went through New Orleans, it was overwhelmingly African Americans who had their homes destroyed, died or were displaced?”
According to Beyer, Dyson’s “Come Hell or High Water” was chosen to discuss because of author credibility, his style of addressing the topic of racism in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and because “it really focuses on the subtle ways in which race impacts public policy.”
But Beyer also explains that the book was also chosen because it encompasses a lot of information that is presently being discussed in numerous IVCC classrooms, such as in sociology classes, Geology instructor Mike Phillips’ classes (in discussing environmental justice) and Human Services Program Coordinator, Jean Batson-Turner’s classes.
Phillips will start off the discussion with a presentation on environmental justice, and Batson-Turner’s students will be both posing some discussion questions to attendees and presenting “outside information and data” to the group, says Beyer.
Beyer also encourages anyone who has had a personal experience with Hurricane Katrina, whether it is a first hand experience or help effort experiences after the hurricane, to come to the discussion to share stories, pictures or anything else that they wish.
“Those would be great things to bring with to share with other people, and maybe that’s a great place to take the discussion to as well; personal recollections,” adds Beyer.
Although Beyer explains that reading the book before attending the discussion is not required or completely necessary, those interested can purchase their own copies in the IVCC book store. Jacobs Library also has a few copies that students can borrow to read.
The book discussion is being sponsored by the Diversity Team, the Office of International Education and People of The World End Racism.