Hurricane

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — September 10th, 2004

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Hurricane

"Hurricane, but you can call me slurricane

 

slurricane, strong enough to start a engine mayne..."

 

It's an E40 classic. If you don't know you're slipping because I am taking it back. I am talking 'bout going back to the 'nine-teen-ninety fin;' a time when hurricane was a drink that'll have you sluttering and what not. It had no regard for size or shape because when you least expected it, you're on your face. You dig what I say.

 

But that was nearly a decade ago, it's twenty-04. When people speak of hurricanes they're not talking a drink that has you seeing things; it's that hurricane that makes you batten down the hatches. The type that makes you run to the basement, close your eyes, click your heels three times and wish you were anyplace but home. 

 

As we speak, the national guard, law enforcement officials and home owners are saying 'we're not in Florida anymore' as they sort through the destruction caused by Hurricane Charley and France. With two hurricanes in a month's time, insurers estimated between $9.4 and $19.4 billion worth of home, business and property damage. The good news, metrologies said it could have been worse because just before she hit land France lost most of her power.

 

But $19.4 billion worth of damage, you can't get any worse than. Well let me rephrase that.

 

You remember '92, the Presidential Election between Poppa Bush and Clinton. That kind of took the back burner because Andrew came through like Queen Latifah and brought the houses down. It was the worst recorded hurricane to hit the States. How about $26.5 billion worth of damaged and 23 lives. 

 

But wait, there's more. Just like America's Past Time, the hurricane season just doesn't end soon enough. Ivan's on his way and might be the third installment of Florida's hurricane trilogy. 

 

Two hurricanes in four week and Ivan on the way, my heart goes out to those families in Florida; but what's the deal? Something ain't right in the FLA.

 

It's evident that I am not a meteorologist because for the longest I thought every time the wind blew trees sneezed. It would take hella trees to cause 100+ mph winds. The trees might not be the cause, but it could be the bushes.

 

No conspiracy theory here just pointing out the obvious.

 

I don't remember much about Big Bush's term, but I do remember the Persian Gulf War in '91. Iraq invaded Kuwait, Bush got mad, vowed to protect the oil, I mean, protect Kuwait and all was good. 

 

Then, baby Bush came along after Clinton's eight year reign and shook the system. I don't have to explain how the election was won, but when your brother is the governor of Florida you better not lose the state or the family would be one son short.

 

Now lets piece this puzzle together.

 

On August 24, before the '92 Election, Andrew tore through Florida leaving nothing in his wake. On November 4, Bush failed to make it a repeat and on January 20, 1993, Clinton was sworn in as the 42nd president.

 

On August 13, 2004, rated by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, Hurricane Charley was classified as a category 4 hurricane (131-155 mph winds). In comparison, Andrew had winds that hit 164 mph and according to the scale category 5 hurricanes hit 155 mph.

 

Hmmm...let's think about this for a minute. '92 was the most destructive hurricane ever and a Bush losses the election. If history were to repeat itself, we would need a hurricane of the same magnitude as Andrew, Florida, an election year and a lil' Bush. 

 

Wait, we do have all the factors. Officials have already determined that the $7.4 million damage estimate would make Charley the second most devastating hurricane behind Andrew. 

 

Second, Charley hit Miami, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda (if you took Spanish it's self explanatory) and other Florida cities. But, this was only a tip of the iceberg because Florida has been a mess since Bush got into office. We all know the stipulation that young blacks don't vote, so how do you prevent the other generations voting? You scare 'em. The best way to frighten the generation who led the Civil Rights Movement is to have the cops come knocking. The practice of disenfranchising the black vote that we thought died in the '50s and '60s had been resurrected in Florida.

 

Politicians lying, trust is lacking and the system is suspect; so what do you do?

 

Personally, I'd take a chapter from Tyler Durden and pull a Project Mayhem: It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything. 

 

Better yet, I'd be like Henry Hill in Goodfellas: so what do you do when you got nothing left? you light a match...blow the joint. 

 

But what I wouldn't do is pile junk and garbage on this system's weak foundation. 

 

What's happening in the US isn't a result of bad politics; it's the LORD correcting things. What is sown will surely be reaped and the MOST HIGH must destroy the evil in order to make way for the new and improved. 

 

If a system or method doesn't work, you have to start over from the ground up. Through US force, Japan, Germany and now Iraq were once destroyed in order to make way for something bigger and better. There's a stronger force at work and in order to make room for the new and improved the corruption, lies and deceit has to go. HE started with Florida being personified in the form of Charley and Frances. Whats next?