OPINION POLL: Media Coverage of CM Barry's Free Turkey Giveaway. A commentary on need in these harsh economic times or another PR nightmare for Ward 8?
To view the article go HERE.
To view the video go HERE*.
*Sorry WashPo doesn't do embeddable videos - they should! Makes cross promotion to blogs so much easier.
Before I even read the article I had an idea where it was going to go (and where non-Ward 8 readers were going to take it) and I wasn't disappointed. To be honest, this was the primary reason why I had decided days ago not to report any of the Turkey giveaways in Ward 8. My feelings were "God Bless" for anyone who really needed a free turkey and I hope they got it but: 1) I wasn't going to add to the general misconception that only Ward 8 residents were in need of assistance (and let's face it all of the recent coverage on turkey giveaways focused on Ward 8 or the more general "southeast") and 2) I was hesitant to applaud politicians and/or businesses that were capitalizing on this poor economy for a photo op -especially if this demonstration in generosity only appeared during Thanksgiving and only in front of news cameras.
People in need have to eat year round - not just on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. In addition to access to food people need jobs, job training, affordable housing, life skills, etc. I suppose my thoughts are that if my Councilmember has been so committed, dedicated and successful in providing REAL jobs and REAL job training opportunities to Ward 8 that not so many people would be in need of a free turkey. Then again, I suppose the flip side is that if our community as a whole was much more financially secure and had the opportunities afforded in other parts of the city, then people who really need help wouldn't be in such desperate need for these occasional handouts. They wouldn't ascribe such blind faith and forgiveness to those that arrange for these giveaways - despite the fact it was through they own negligence or poor performance that these desperate conditions were created in the first place.
I digress…back to the Washington Post coverage and to be fair the Washington Post wasn’t the only mainstream media to focus purely on turkey giveaways in “Southeast” (can someone please explain to the powers that be that Ward 8 includes some SW streets?). For the purpose of this post I am going to focus on the Washington Post coverage because it was the coverage that impacted me the most and is probably the most visible.
Article Excerpt:
"Police were needed to calm tempers at a Southeast Washington church Tuesday after a turkey giveaway by D.C. Council member Marion Barry ran out of birds and hundreds of people had to be turned away.After I read the Washington Post article I already had a good idea of where the reader comments were going to go but when I took a look at the video I really absorbed exactly how much of a public relations nightmare for Ward 8 Barry’s Turkey Giveaway had become. The video of desperate, frustrated and frankly pissed off people demanding their free turkey played right into the hands and misconceptions of many in the District (and beyond) that think that Ward 8 is full of poor lazy black people always looking for an underserved handout.
"They made a promise that they couldn't keep," Linda Jackson said as she left Union Temple Baptist Church with only a crumpled piece of paper reading, "Councilmember Marion Barry's Ward 8 Turkey Giveaway."
Brenda Richardson, who coordinated the event, said many people were turned away because they could not provide proof that they were residents of Ward 8. "There was a process. People were supposed to sign up, and if there were turkeys left, then we would give them to other District residents, but all of the turkeys are spoken for," she said."
In case you may think I may just have a low opinion of my fellow Washingtonian here are just a few of the reader comments on the article and video:
gpl2411 wrote:
So the Police have to respond because people weren't given free food? Too bad! The "sad commentary" is some people can't act civilized. If you can't act right, you don't deserve a handout.
11/24/2009 8:52:16 PM
zzzdoglie wrote:
They get a turkey - so they must have a place to cook it - so how is this giveaway a comment on homelessness? It is a comment of greed.
11/25/2009 2:55:03 AM
willtill wrote:
I bet there were a lot of people there whom had the means to buy a turkey, but opted for the free handout instead. Greed raises it's head.
I paid for my turkey by the way. God didn't give it to me, I worked for it.
11/25/2009 6:49:33 AM
Hillman1 wrote:
Barry, you created that 'sad commentary' by advancing a 'public welfare is a right forever with no requirement to work or show responsibility' political machine.
Many of these very people lining up for turkeys are there because Barry encouraged a self-destructive cycle of welfare poverty and violence, all for his own cheap political gain.
11/25/2009 7:52:53 AM
kl305 wrote:
Don't you just love socialism?
The more free stuff you give away the more people find the time not to work, but to stand in line for more free stuff.
We have made ourselves into an Obama Nation.
11/25/2009 8:24:14 AM
panamajack wrote:
Let's see. Barry raised $20K to buy turkeys. He probably pocketed $15K for himself and bought overpriced turkeys from his cronies. Ward 8 deserves him, and they deserve what happens to them.
11/25/2009 9:07:37 AM
foxxmacpryor wrote:
Something smells more like day-old fish tha frozen turkeys here. Willie Wilson's Church a guy who pimps poverty,built a church above the historic Anacostia skyline while Marion Barry was Mayor, people missing work for the hand-outs and I am supposed to be guilt ridden...geeez!
11/25/2009 10:23:17 AM
Jimof1913 wrote:
Barry has created an environment in ward 8 where the most needed think they have a right to free food, utilities, and a place to stay. When these people don't get the free things promised they act like they're been robbed. Tell them you're giving away 200 turkeys and 500 people will show up expecting to get a turkey. Thius is a sad comentary on the mindset of the poorest or the poor.
11/25/2009 10:26:41 AM
tmi1 wrote:
I bet the people waiting in line for their free turkeys were also occupying their time by texting on their blackberrys and Iphones too.
11/25/2009 10:58:33 AM
Nosh1 wrote:
Actually, if you watched the video, you can see one woman in the last ~20 seconds playing with her blackberry.
This kind of thing really disgusts me. People acting like they are child-animals, expecting the world to revolve around them.
It's ok to take the day off work to stand in line for a 20 dollar turkey, and spend your time playing with your 200 dollar phone. These people aren't poor. They are chronically lazy and self obsessed.
11/25/2009 11:16:12 AM
kenayers1 wrote:
Typical of Ward 8. "give me something for free, and if you don't, I'll get mad".
11/25/2009 12:03:19 PM
Of the people that posted negative and anonymous commentary on the state of things Ward 8 (or perhaps the state of things involving poor black people), imagine the many more that didn’t post but share those views. I’m not saying a turkey giveaway in Ward 8 is per se a bad thing but I am saying that if the 'powers that be' are going to continue to organize these type of public giveaways they need to plan them better. Perhaps instead of focusing primarily on how great of a PR opportunity this would be, organizers could put steps in place to ensure that they don’t overpromise and under deliver - even if it means forgoing public relations opportunities in favor of delivering these items in private and away from the glare (and judgement) of news cameras. People who are really in need should be treated with some dignity and respect so they don’t become unwitting pawns in the next news cycle or public relations stunt - or worse - targets for those who are heavy on judgement but low on compassion.
Ward 8 residents already know the media coverage deck is stacked against us. Let's face it, there is a BIG difference in public perception between being poor and white as opposed to being poor and black. It’s far easier for most media outlets (especially the local ones) to pander to misguided stereotypes than to find the real story. We already know there are only two topics that send local media flocking to "Southeast" at breakneck speed - Marion and murders. There is no need to give those who wish to keep us in a box (or Ward) more ammunition (even in the form of a frozen turkey).
While I am glad that in these rough economic times that at least 2,000 people found some relief in the form of a free turkey, I can't help but draw parallels between yesterday’s PR nightmare and the typical Marion Barry spawned production. Self-serving, over-hyped, poorly run and involving the usual cast of characters.
Therefore The Advoc8te has to ask: At the end of the day who really ended up looking like a turkey?
For more Congress Heights and River East news visit The Congress Heights Examiner website, http://www.examiner.com/x-13507-Congress-Heights-Community-Examiner
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