March 9, 2007

Remembering when the levees broke

In commemoration of Black History Month, the Association of Multicultural Members of Partners (AMMP), with support from the MGH Multicultural Affairs Office, hosted a screening Feb. 28 of "When the Levees Broke," a Spike Lee documentary depicting the devastation and recovery of the Gulf Coast region of the United States following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The film was followed by a panel discussion with Deborah Washington, RN, PhDc, director of Diversity for MGH Patient Care Services, and Joy Williams, RN, of the Department of Radiology.

Washington gave her insight as an individual born and raised in the New Orleans area. She also commented on the struggle many African-Americans faced due to the hurricane and described the exodus of Gulf Coast residents as a type of African-American diaspora.
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit the United States, Williams worked as a medical volunteer with the MGH, Project HOPE and the U.S. Navy. She described the frustration that she and her fellow volunteers experienced following the hurricane due to public health policy "red tape," and described her efforts to bring medical relief to those affected by the disaster.

Says Akin Demehin, AMMP vice chair and MGH administrative fellow, "Many who viewed the film were truly moved. Hurricane Katrina had a profound effect on the Gulf Coast's African-American culture and community, as well as a marked
public health impact on African-Americans in the area."