New Orleans
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin issued a public apology this week after suggesting in a speech that God had sent hurricanes to his city because he was “mad at America” for invading Iraq. Nagin also said he was determined to see New Orleans rebuilt as a “chocolate” city, echoing the lyrics of a George Clinton funk tune that contrasted black inner cities with “vanilla suburbs.” Some critics called the remarks racist, and several local politicians immediately declared they would run to unseat Nagin in an April election. “The question I keep hearing,” said a local tourism official, “is, ‘What in the world was he thinking?’”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Music reviews: Bon Iver, Valerie June, and The WaterboysFeature "Sable, Fable," "Owls, Omens, and Oracles," "Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper"
-
Are bonds worth investing in?the explainer They can diversify your portfolio and tend to be a safer investment than stocks
-
Elon has his 'Legion.' How will Republicans encourage other Americans to have babies?Today's Big Question The pronatalist movement finds itself in power
