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Recession Dispatch from… New Orleans

What an amazing town.  The people… The music… The energy… Ahh, it’s so nice and personable, and fun!  I love the character in the buildings, too.

I was surprised to get so many stories in New Orleans, especially because so many people told me the city was doing well now. Upon entering the town, I spoke to a dark-skinned man who explained that a lot of the jobs that resulted in stimulus funding went to people who moved to New Orleans to fill those positions.  I got the impression he was referring to light-skinned people.

This morning, I met a man from Detroit named Bernard, who lost his job manufacturing nuts and bolts for the auto industry. He moved to New Orleans to look for work, but he hasn’t had any luck. Although he maintained a professional outlook and wore respectable clothing, he explained that he is homeless for the first time. He’s been on the streets for about a month, and it’s extremely difficult, he said.

Bernard is a perfect example of what’s happening during this recession. He’s a hard-working, respectable guy that’s completely down on his luck. My first impression was that he was financially secure. He looked like a yuppie! But he was carrying a small black bag.

“Anyone in New Orleans carrying a bag is homeless. It doesn’t matter what kind of bag it is—a grocery bag, a luggage bag; it doesn’t matter. They’re homeless.”

“Anyone in New Orleans carrying a bag is homeless,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of bag it is. It could be a grocery bag, a luggage bag; it doesn’t matter. They’re homeless.”

Within a few minutes, another man walked by with an identical small black bag as Bernard’s. This other man shared his story, and explained that he made $200 last night having sex with a married woman. He seemed proud to have made that money, but Bernard assured me the guy didn’t sleep with anyone desirable. Bernard said only a really desperate woman would pay $200 to sleep with an ugly homeless guy.

Although it’s irrelevant, I thought Bernard made an interesting observation. What fascinated me, though, was Bernard’s attitude toward this other man and homeless people in general. He said he looks down on them because they don’t contribute to society; they just take. I couldn’t help recognize the juxtaposition of his thoughts and his current state in life. On the one hand, I admire his refusal to because a supposed “low life” despite homelessness. On the other hand, I’m afraid it will make his journey more difficult to accept as he continues his process of homeless realization. I hope he gets out of it quickly. He doesn’t seem like the type to be in this position.

The Man in a Van Project is a non-profit endeavor by artist Aaron Heideman who is traveling the country collecting stories from people whose lives have been affected by the recession. You can find more stories at The Man in a Van Project.

Copyright 2009, The Man in a Van Project. Used with permission.

Tags: cities, economy, recession, Recession Lexicon