Rasheed Wallace Compares Flint To Third-World Country In Revealing Interview [VIDEO]
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Rasheed Wallace has a first-hand appreciation for the Flint water crisis - a crisis, by the way, that continues to roil.
The former Piston visited Flint this summer, bought as much bottled water as he could fit in the back of a moving truck, and then went door to door handing out cases of it to local residents.
Wallace reflected on his trip in an essay titled, "The Truth About Flint.
"Part of Flint was already in extreme poverty, but what I saw was something else: people missing clumps of hair, rashes on adults and children alike — all because of poisoned water," Wallace wrote. "Imagine that: The poorest people paying the heaviest price.
"I didn't go to churches or hospitals or government buildings. I was right there, with the people, in the hood, in the projects, going door to door. Because that's what was necessary."
He added later, "Every time I go, I'm amazed by the people, but I'm sickened by the lack of help.
"Don't believe the hype that you hear about the water being fixed. That water's not fixed. This sh*t ain't over. Just because it isn't being talked about doesn't mean it's over. Light still needs to be shone on this."
Wallace continued his crusade on Thursday night during an appearance on Kevin Garnett's TV show, "Area 21," which airs on TNT. When Garnett brought up Wallace's volunteer efforts, Wallace used the platform to explain the severity of the city's plight.
"Its definitely a crisis, the things that are going on up there in Flint," Wallace began.
"You wouldn't even think that it's part of the United States if you went up there and looked at it. It looks like a third world country, bro. You might have 15 or 20 houses on a block, and only, like, two of them are occupied. It's either boarded-up homes, vacant lots...It's nasty, man. It's disgusting," he said.
Wallace explained he also distributed baby food, book bags and notebooks, among other supplies, during his trip to Flint.
"Whatever it is that the kids (could use) and that would make it easier on the parents," he said.
And Wallace intends to return.
"Were not finished, we're not finished with it," he said. "We ain't done, Flint."