White people profiting off the misfortunes of America’s black citizens is nothing new but remains disappointing as ever. That’s why I’m not surprised to see that a show centering around the tragic effects of Hurricane Katrina will focus on the individuals who let thousands down rather than the people who actually had to go through it. I’m talking about Ryan Murphy’s Katrina: An American Crime Story. I guess it makes sense in this case to put the focus on the failures of President George W. Bush and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) given this is a story about crime, but it still irks me that the victims will once again be erased from their own story.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Dennis Quaid will step into the role of President George W. Bush while Matthew Broderick is set to play FEMA Director Michael D. Brown, the man in charge of the government’s response to the disaster despite having no qualifications to handle it. Annette Bening joins them as Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Murphy hinted that there might be a role in there somewhere for Sarah Paulson. But also, where are the black people? Couldn’t find one? Perhaps I’m jumping the gun on this. They haven’t even listed the background extras yet so that’s something to look forward to.
Katrina: An American Crime Story heads to television sometime in 2018. The franchise will also take on the murder of Gianni Versace in Miami later that year. That one stars Ricky Martin as Gianni’s longtime lover Antonio D’Amico, the longtime partner of Gianni; Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan, the man who murdered him; Penélope Cruz as Donatella Versace; and Édgar Ramirez as Gianni Versace.
(via EW, image: National Geographic)
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