A lab for ideas on changing the world

The Movement Vision Lab at the Center for Community Change -- a special project that aims to "bring together grassroots organizers and social justice advocates to share and debate long-term, visionary ideas for the future" -- has launched an interesting blog. Each week has a special theme; this time it's "race and racial justice."

Two long-time Southern organizers weigh in on the discussion: Gerald Taylor, who heads up the Southern division of the Industrial Areas Foundation, and Scott Douglas of Greater Birmingham Ministries in Alabama.

Douglas brings a valuable Deep South perspective to the debate, arguing that Hurricane Katrina and the failing Gulf Coast recovery are more than just an isolated problem -- they are a symbol and yardstick for looking at our country's priorities. Some excerpts:

Across entire Gulf Coast, stretching from Texas to Alabama, affordable housing and living wage job opportunities are scarce. Thousands of families are still housed in FEMA trailers that contain deadly levels of formaldehyde.

Yet the federal government manages to scrounge up $3 billion per day to "rescue" Iraq. Those of us in the Gulf Coast need to be rescued, too!

Why do we tolerate this injustice? In my opinion, many progressives have become so focused on individual campaigns that we have lost sight of the bigger picture, the larger frame.

What is the larger frame? Think about inclusive, informed and accountable democracy. [...]

Where we're going will be defined by how our government and America as a nation reacts to Katrina, Rita and Wilma. There is no truer test of our character, strength, awareness and courage.

This disaster surpasses September 11th both by scale and its long lasting impact. Perhaps if we had blamed Katrina on Al Queada, we might have gotten some help. But our government would rather dominate and destroy people of color in Iraq than help people of color here at home.