“Hey, where’d you stay?”
Outsiders who look at those living in areas affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Irma and Maria, often misperceive just how serious the devastation has been for the millions of people impacted.
Here are several things that I’ve heard when talking about the people who must restore their lives:
- You have a unique opportunity to start over somewhere new.
- You only lost things. You still have your memories.
- You’ll be fine, pull yourself up by the bootstraps.
- You’ll be welcomed wherever you decide to settle down.
- You can count on disaster relief agencies to assist you throughout your ordeal.
The stigma around those displaced and in some ways, their misrepresentation in the media, misconstrued the public’s opinion. There is an imagination that people can just recuperate and bounce back, making tourism areas a contentious space following major crises or disasters.
In some places in the Caribbean and Texas, tourists enjoy their vacation literally next to a family or business that lost everything. The juxtaposition draws to question of just how much are visitors “out-of-touch” with the every day realities of those who live in these spaces?
| Check out another cartoon by Nobi DeLon.
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Nobi DeLon is a NJ based content creator, writer, educator, DJ, and radio personality obsessed with vintage Black glamour, hip hop, good conversation, reading, self-lovery, and hope. Always evolving, this proud mama of three considers herself most fearless when she is being creative behind a pen, podium or set of turntables. Oh, the soulful places you’ll go when you connect with Nobi by following her Instagram and her radio show, The Night Drive – @nightdriveradio
