Mack McClendon: What Can You Do? - The Moth

Summary

The Moth Podcast: Mack McClendon – "What Can You Do?"

Release Date: January 31, 2011

Introduction: Mack McClendon's Background

In this poignant episode of The Moth, Mack McClendon shares his deeply personal journey of loss, resilience, and community rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A lifelong resident of New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, Mack paints a vivid picture of his life before the devastating storm struck.

Life Before Katrina: Passion for Antique Cars

Mack begins by detailing his passion for antique cars, a hobby he embraced after sustaining a back injury while working for a phone company. "I was always fascinated about antique cars," Mack recounts (02:50). This interest not only provided him solace during his disability years but also connected him with a community of like-minded enthusiasts. By the time Katrina approached, Mack had amassed a collection of 14 antique convertibles, with his prized possession being a 1962 Tempest Pontiac: "It was candy apple red, and I rubbed all the paint off of it" (03:15).

The Devastation of Katrina: Loss and Numbness

The arrival of Hurricane Katrina marked a turning point in Mack's life. The storm wreaked havoc on his beloved Lower Ninth Ward, destroying his home and automobile collection. "When Katrina hit, it took all of them. It took my cars, it took. It damaged my house," Mack shares with palpable emotion (04:10). The immediate aftermath left him in a state of numbness, grappling with the reality of losing everything overnight. "I was numb for five months. I was hoping it was a bad dream," he admits (05:00).

The Turning Point: Deciding to Act

After months of stagnation, Mack reaches a breaking point. Determined to reclaim a sense of purpose, he turns his attention to a local mechanic shop building he had long admired but never could afford. Katrina had left the structure battered yet intact. Seizing the opportunity, Mack negotiates to acquire the building but faces delays. Undeterred, he takes matters into his own hands: "I got my lawnmower and got my friends, and I just started cutting the grass" (06:45). This act of initiative prompts the building's owner to reconsider, ultimately handing over the keys to Mack.

Transforming Loss into Community Rebirth

With the keys in hand, Mack enters the building at daybreak, sparking a profound realization about what truly matters. Standing amidst the vast space, he reflects, "I thought it was my things and my cars and my house. What's important in life is people" (09:30). Inspired, Mack proposes transforming the building into a community center, initially expecting minimal support. Contrary to his expectations, the community rallies behind his vision. "After all of them filled out a card," Mack notes, indicating overwhelming community interest (11:00).

Lessons Learned: The Power of Community and Resilience

Mack's experience teaches him invaluable lessons about the importance of community and mutual support. He emphasizes that while material possessions were lost, relationships and human connections endured. "If you allow people to know what your problems are, they could really help," he reflects (12:15). Mack's initiative not only provides a space for community rebuilding but also fosters a renewed sense of hope and collaboration among residents.

Conclusion: From "Me" to "We"

In his heartfelt conclusion, Mack underscores the transformation from individual loss to collective healing. "Now it's not about me. It's about we," he declares (12:55). His story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of coming together in the face of adversity.

Notable Quotes

Mack McClendon at 02:50: "I was always fascinated about antique cars."
Mack McClendon at 03:15: "It was candy apple red, and I rubbed all the paint off of it."
Mack McClendon at 04:10: "When Katrina hit, it took all of them. It took my cars, it took. It damaged my house."
Mack McClendon at 05:00: "I was numb for five months. I was hoping it was a bad dream."
Mack McClendon at 06:45: "I got my lawnmower and got my friends, and I just started cutting the grass."
Mack McClendon at 09:30: "I thought it was my things and my cars and my house. What's important in life is people."
Mack McClendon at 11:00: "After all of them filled out a card."
Mack McClendon at 12:15: "If you allow people to know what your problems are, they could really help."
Mack McClendon at 12:55: "Now it's not about me. It's about we."

Reflections and Impact

Mack McClendon's narrative is not just a recounting of personal loss but a beacon of hope and community spirit. His journey from despair to proactive community building exemplifies the profound impact one individual's determination can have on an entire neighborhood. By turning his back on self-pity and embracing collective effort, Mack plays a pivotal role in the Lower Ninth Ward's ongoing recovery and revitalization.

For those unfamiliar with The Moth, this episode is a compelling example of the power of storytelling to inspire and bring about meaningful change. Mack's story resonates universally, reminding listeners of the enduring strength found in unity and the human capacity to rebuild and thrive despite overwhelming challenges.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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B (1:08)

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C (2:41)

Whoa. I was born and raised. Been in New Orleans since I was about four years old and living in the Lower Ninth Ward Practically all My life. My first apartment was in the Lower Knight Ward. I worked for the phones company straight out of high school. I wound up getting hurt after about four, I mean 11 and a half years. I fell off a ladder and I damaged two discs in my lower back. So I started getting disability and I was kind of bored. I needed something to do. I was always felt fascinated about antique cars. So I figured I got a perfect time to do that mess with antique cars so that I picked it up as a hobby. And it was really, really good because I could go to antique car shows and get little parts and tinker with them and put them together. And it was amazing to see something that looked like junk when you bought it. And then you make it look so good and everybody wanted. Just before Katrina hit, I found my a car just like the first one. My first car that I had. It was a 1962 Tempest Pontiac. I was crazy about that car. As a matter of fact, it was candy apple red and I rubbed all the paint off of it. So finding it again, you know, I was really excited. It was in great shape and I had been working on it maybe about two and a half months before Katrina hit. I had other cars. As a matter of fact, I had about 14 anti cars and most of them was convertibles. I love muscle car convertibles. But anyway, when Katrina hit, it took all of them. It took my cars, it took. It damaged my house. And we come up in a place where you say you are what you have. What happens when you lose everything overnight. I know what happened. I tell you. I was numb. Numb for five months. I was hoping it was a bad dream. I was hoping I wake up and I didn't lose everything. But every day I woke up, it just kept getting worse. Until one day I said, hey, you bigger than that, you got to get up. I've been going to this mechanic shop in my neighborhood. I was fascinated by the building. It was a huge airplane hangar looking warehouse. And I used to go over there and I really wanted this building, but I never could afford it. It was too expensive. After Katrina. One day I passed by and Katrina had knocked big holes in the roof and everything. I said, if I'm ever going to get that building. So what I did, I went to city hall and got the owner's name and his number and everything. And I called him and he said, I asked him, I would like to see the inside of the building. I want to. I would like to purchase a building. He said, okay. And we set up a date. And he came Out. And we went inside of the building, and the structure was still good. It had looked like everything could float, though, from Katrina was in there. But I said, that's good. I could get it cheaper. But anyway, he said he's going to go and do his paperwork and everything, and he'd get back with me. Well, he took too long. I kept passing by the building every day. So I. I went, Got my lawnmower and got my friends, and I just started cutting the grass, you know, because. And it just so happened, he called that day, and he said, what you doing? I said, I'm cutting the grass by the building, because if you don't cut the grass, they're going to make it a dumping ground and they're going to throw everything there. He said, look, when you finish, could you please come by my office? I said, okay. So I finished up, and I went by his office, and he said, I don't know how this is going to work out. It takes the time to buy a building and stuff like that, but I know I got to give you these keys. And he gave him the keys, and I was excited. I ran out of there trying to beat the daylight because it didn't have no lights. I wanted to go inside of the building by myself. So by the time I got back, it was just too dark. So I had a restless night. I got these keys in my hand. So I'm waiting on Daybreak.