According to Photo Captioners: White people "find," Black people "loot"

[Unassisted]

http://photos23.flickr.com/38725768_16c66eb58b.jpg?v=0

This controversy has been bouncing around among bloggers today. It shows a comparison between two AP photo captions of hurricane victims in New Orleans who helped themselves to merchandise. (Presumably anyway, since no stores are open there.) In the two photos, the white people had "found" their items, while the black people "looted" theirs.

Here are the two originals on Yahoo...

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/480/ladm10208301530
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/p...hxwaoma_photo1

Here's another white person "shopping" who's apparently not a "looter."
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/even...VvBHNlYwNzc20-

CNN used the same photo that AP labeled as a black "looter," but said the young man was "dragging groceries."
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/weath...ntent.1.5.html

[Matt700wlw]

If you are "looting" or "finding" food, beverages, water, etc. (neccessary items), I can live with that, and can look away.

If you're "looting" or "finding" TV's, Radios, Jewelry, etc. then you are a criminal


Period. End of story.

[savafan]

Here's another white person "dragging groceries" who's apparently not a "looter."

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/weath...ntent.1.5.html

That individual doesn't look white to me, but it may just be the lighting.

Edit: That white person who is apparently not a "looter" is the same as the black person who is a "looter" in the yahoo link.

[traderumor]

I don't think the girl is white. She appears biracial to me. Now, let the bloggers debate that one.

[RBA]

The first two photos are on yahoo, but they are from two different news services, the AP and AFP. I might see a case to scream "racism" if they were both captions from the same news service, but they are not.

[Matt700wlw]

I don't think the girl is white. She appears biracial to me. Now, let the bloggers debate that one.

Fine...she's "finding loot."

[Unassisted]

Edit: That white person who is apparently not a "looter" is the same as the black person who is a "looter" in the yahoo link.

You're right. I think I pasted the wrong link. I'll try to find the correct one.

[edit]Updated now... In the interest of fairness, I kept the aforementioned CNN link, but updated the label.

[Falls City Beer]

As if the news isn't stomach-churning enough, they have to focus on things like looting, when people are grieving for the dead and the missing. Pathetic.

[Betterread]

As if the news isn't stomach-churning enough, they have to focus on things like looting, when people are grieving for the dead and the missing. Pathetic.

The emphasis that the national news puts on the looting really bothers me as well. There are so many more significant things occurring that merit reporting.

[Falls City Beer]

The emphasis that the national news puts on the looting really bothers me as well. There are so many more significant things occurring that merit reporting.

It's not just the news. Now New Orleans police have been siphoned away from rescue duty to go on "protect rich peoples' possessions" duty. :thumbdown

[CTA513]

Its pretty obvious this is the governments way of keeping the black man down.

[Falls City Beer]

Its pretty obvious this is the governments way of keeping the black man down.

Huh.

[ochre]

It's not just the news. Now New Orleans police have been siphoned away from rescue duty to go on "protect rich peoples' possessions" duty. :thumbdown

That's what I have been trying to say basically. Honestly, when so many lives have been lost and continue to be at stake, why be worried about material loss? Its not like there are dry jail cells easily accessible, and if there were, I'd rather see them used for the people that are to infirm to move out of the region.

[Falls City Beer]

That's what I have been trying to say basically. Honestly, when so many lives have been lost and continue to be at stake, why be worried about material loss? Its not like there are dry jail cells easily accessible, and if there were, I'd rather see them used for the people that are to infirm to move out of the region.

You know, people are so fond of saying that disaster brings out the best in people. This is just evidence that it also brings out the worst. The actions of the police really reveal some of our society's priorities and values. And it's not pretty.

[GAC]

If you are "looting" or "finding" food, beverages, water, etc. (neccessary items), I can live with that, and can look away.

If you're "looting" or "finding" TV's, Radios, Jewelry, etc. then you are a criminal


Period. End of story.

Exactly. I have heard reports that police weren't stopping people from going into grocery stores/convenience marts and getting food, diapers, etc. What food stuff is there is gonna perish. It's all about survival right now for those people.

Saw a video of people breaking into an auto parts store. That's looting IMO.