In the meantime, Jazz Festival was happening in New Orleans.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The weakened levees has broken, and 80% of the city went under water. Many people died, and many people lost their homes. People became ill from being in the toxic floodwater. Fights started because there was no food. But for a long time, no one came to rescue them.
Malik lives in New Orleans. Since the day after Katrina hit, he gathered food and supplies for the people there. He converted a vacant structure into hospital to take care of the sick people who could not move. He built a facility called "Common Ground Collective" and provided the roof for the people who have lost their homes. Volunteers started to come.
On TV, there was a strange person saying "Malik is like enemy, no need to help" because the structure he's converted into a hospital was also a Mosque. The guy on TV continues. "Those who helps Malik are 'Nigger Lovers'" because Malik and people who stay at his place were mostly poor blacks.
But from all over America, more and more young white, young black, and young people in all colors kept on going to volunteer.
People in New Orleans loved music. Many famous musicians used to live there. Every year many people from all over the world used to come to be at the Jazz Festival. Could we have it this year? Yes, people made it happen. More musicians came to play there than any other year.
A very famous rock musician named Bruce Springsteen sang a song called "We Shall Overcome". People in the audience sang with him. Many of them were crying.
Malik Rahim
Common Ground Collective
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