Rebuilding the Levees of New Orleans
analytical Essay
1102 words
Great cities are colorful, diverse, and enduring; the city of New Orleans is a gem. Rich in history, culture and natural resources New Orleans provides immense benefits to the rest or our beautiful country. In response to the documentary “When the Levees Broke” made by the notorious Spike Lee, we are faced with many tragic images; however there is never a question that the people of New Orleans are an enduring and kindred community in desperate of need of loving hands. Sharon Keating writes in her editorial “It's time for a nation to return the favor” Sunday, November 20, 2005 Times-Picayune. A key piece to understand is her take on “Great Cities” “They are made by their place and their people, their beauty and their risk. Water flows around and through most of them. And one of the greatest bodies of water in the land flows through this one; the Mississippi. Even though New Orleans sits below sea level the city has proven it’s worth, with a thriving shipping port, universities, hospitals and a culture overflowing with beauty; American’s must ensure the levees are rebuilt.
What makes our country so beautiful is certainly due in-part to New Orleans culture, the amazing artistic, musical – think of the birth-place of jazz, and the glistening Mississippi. A landscape incredibly gorgeous and people rich in tradition with roots from Europe and elsewhere, provides a dynamic yet firmly rooted people that strongly influences all of America today. Moreover, every person no matter where they may hail from should stop to consider the question “Should we re-build?” At the very moment this enters in consciousness all one needs to truly do is to consider, the what if’s. What if this was my town, my city, my home? The answer is obvious! Of ...
... middle of paper ...
... Orleans. In Lee’s Documentary we see the death of a city, and a people lost emotionally, economically and in death. One may ascertain that his motivations for brining to light this enormous amount of pain and suffering in his documentary is to enlighten people, those responsible as well as bystanders to ensure that this kind of travesty is properly dealt with should it befall us again Sharon Keating is a life long resident of New Orleans, she has an immense appreciation for the culture, history, natural resources and beauty of the City of New Orleans. Every person has a fondness for home, every city was built to thrive, some have faltered but through the test of time New Orleans has remained steadfast and beautiful and we must all do our part to ensure that this magnificent history permeates our soul and continues to foster the beauty and diversity of New Orleans.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the city of new orleans is rich in history, culture, and natural resources. sharon keating writes in her editorial "it's time for a nation to return the favor."
- Analyzes how lee answers the question "should we re-build?" with touching personal interviews that are all connected deeply to the city of new orleans.
- Analyzes how spike lee's "when the levees broke" is a heart wrenching documentary. the band members are mourning, celebrating, and remembering the great city of new orleans.
- Analyzes how spike lee and sharon keating have a common interest in preserving the city of new orleans.
- Opines that spike lee and sharon keating share a common interest, to restore the city and people of new orleans.
Related
- analytical
- argumentative
- Hurricane Katrina In New Orleansanalytical essay...e governments discriminated against poor African Americans residents, but it is only natural that after receiving little aid and having no place to go, those citizens would not return to the Crescent City. The immense displacement caused by the most expensive natural disaster in United States history proved that the City of New Orleans, and the United States as a whole, was not prepared for a natural disaster of that magnitude. It also showed the challenges urban planners face in times of crisis and the weaknesses they need to overcome in order to avoid another decade of reconstruction efforts after tragedy strikes. Despite the fact that nine years post-Katrina many people have still not returned to the city, New Orleans, with every flaw it has, is still an encouraging example proving that with enough effort, battered places can rebuild and begin to prosper again.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that speed of recovery is important to keep businesses alive, rebuild infrastructure, and provide temporary and permanent housing for disaster victims.
- Argues that the disproportionate extent to which african americans were affected by katrina could be attributed to preexisting social and economic disparities in the area.
- Analyzes how hurricane katrina exposed the vulnerability of poor african americans and the long-existing social and racial inequalities that existed in new orleans.
- Argues that many of the racial disparities that occurred in post-katrina relief and reconstruction were "blind." fema storm damage data shows that the storm's impact was disproportionately sustained by coastal louisiana’s african american community.
- Argues that the slow return rate of the citizens of new orleans after hurricane katrina raises important questions about urban reconstruction and government relief and intervention after natural disasters.
- Analyzes how hurricane katrina affected various races and neighborhoods in urban areas, specifically new orleans.
- Analyzes how hurricane katrina reinforced some already well-known urban planning lessons: the u.s. government acknowledges racial minorities and the poor at a lesser rate than wealthy white americans.
- Analyzes how post-disaster reconstruction influenced the rate at which new orlenians returned to their home.
- Analyzes how the racial disparities in fema's relief efforts in new orleans after hurricane katrina are legitimate and true.
- Argues that preexisting inequalities can combine with government decisions to establish structural inequality. fema refuses to release its data on who, or how many people it provided shelter to, which makes researching whether or not race genuinely played a role in government invention after katrina near impossible.
2461 wordsRead More - Poverty in Americaanalytical essayTrethewey, Natasha. Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Athens: U of Georgia, 2010. 83-125. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lessin and deal's film, natasha trethewey’s memoir, and bell hooks’ excerpts, depicts that the poor are often dehumanized and neglected by structures of power.
- Explains that the film, trouble the water, is a testimonial story of an inspirational couple, kimberly and scott, who survived hurricane katrina, the failed levees of new orleans, and their horrible past.
- Analyzes how hooks' memoir points out the negative assumptions made about poverty, but the media uses tv shows and films to display that being poor means your worthless and shiftless.
- Analyzes how trethewey argues that the government neglected the poor community and only focused on rebuilding the white or the rich community, specifically, the casino area.
- Explains that dehumanizing a poor person is not supplying them with the necessities during the tragic event or making them feel less than in any situation. after hurricane katrina, lower class people were left homeless with no help and aid.
- Cites hooks, bell, and trethewey, natasha. beyond katrina: a meditation on the mississippi gulf coast.
922 wordsRead More - Analysis Of Many Died In Their Attic By Chris Roseanalytical essayHe does not provide statistics or matter-of-fact statements to present the outcomes of Katrina. Instead, Rose writes about what he himself experiences as a result of the storm. This author is not weaving together a tale of imaginary faces in an attempt to gain sympathy. He writes as himself experiencing instances of tragedy, camaraderie, and despondency. There is no logical format for what subject matter he may explore. In this anthology of articles he utilizes dark humor, such as when he writes of the stench and subsequent war of refrigerators; optimism, such as when he describes the characters that remain and the absoluteness of Mardi Gras; nostalgia, such as when he reflects upon memories with his children and his first visit to New Orleans; and dejection, such as instances when he himself begins to lose hope and realize the poor outlook for his
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how rose's book, 1 dead in attic: post-katrina stories, is a chronology of his struggle to reestablish normalcy.
- Analyzes how the times-picayune's coverage of hurricane katrina induced a diaspora of new orleans natives across the country seeking updates regarding their beloved city.
- Analyzes how chris rose recounts the storm in a first-person perspective, personifying the suffering that was endured. he writes as himself experiencing instances of tragedy, camaraderie, and despondency.
- Analyzes how "despair" reveals heart-wrenching stories emerging from a cycle of loss. it is concerned with the pull of new orleans, its whisper in your ear when you’ve departed.
- Analyzes how the images present throughout the book provide additional insight into the significance of the event.
- Explains that chris rose was among those who returned early, leaving his family behind, so that he could provide a channel of information. he described for his audience what they were otherwise not privy to.
1217 wordsRead More - Analysis Of One Dead In Attic By Chris Roseanalytical essayA storm such as Katrina undoubtedly ruined homes and lives with its destructive path. Chris Rose touches upon these instances of brokenness to elicit sympathy from his audience. Throughout the novel, mental illness rears its ugly head. Tales such as “Despair” reveal heart-wrenching stories emerging from a cycle of loss. This particular article is concerned with the pull of New Orleans, its whisper in your ear when you’ve departed that drags you home. Not home as a house, because everything physical associated with home has been swept away by the storm and is now gone. Rather, it is concerned with home as a feeling, that concept that there is none other than New Orleans. Even when there is nothing reminiscent of what you once knew, a true New Orleanian will seek a fresh start atop the foundation of rubbish. This is a foreign concept for those not native to New Orleans, and a New Orleanian girl married to a man from Atlanta found her relationship split as a result of flooding waters. She was adamant about staying, and he returned to where he was from. When he came back to New Orleans for her to try and make it work, they shared grim feelings and alcohol, the result of which was the emergence of a pact reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. This couple decided they would kill themselves because they could see no light amongst the garbage and rot, and failure was draining them of any sense of optimism. She realized the fault in this agreement,
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how rose's book, 1 dead in attic: post-katrina stories, is a chronology of his struggle to reestablish normalcy.
- Analyzes how chris rose sent his words into the void for months, targeting both individuals experiencing similar situations within the scope of the times-picayune and those elsewhere desiring an account of events.
- Analyzes how chris rose recounts the storm in a first-person perspective, personifying the suffering that was endured. he writes as himself experiencing instances of tragedy, camaraderie, and despondency.
- Analyzes how chris rose touches upon these instances of brokenness to elicit sympathy from his audience. "despair" reveals heart-wrenching stories emerging from a cycle of loss.
- Analyzes how the images present throughout the book provide additional insight into the significance of the event. images of destruction, spray painted messages, and masses of people allow readers to visualize what accompanied the storm.
- Analyzes how chris rose was among those who returned early, leaving his family behind, so that he may provide a channel of information. thomas coleman tells another story of new orleans; the tale of those beyond hope or hopelessness.
1109 wordsRead More - Hurricane Katrina Social Disaster Essayanalytical essayAugust 2005 marked an extremely devastating time for the citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana, after being hit by “one of the strongest storms to impact the coast of the United States” as described by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (Waple 1). The real destruction occurred only after the hurricane had passed though and the levees separating New Orleans from surrounding lakes were breached leaving over 80% of the city under water. Although it is easy to claim the failure in the levees could not have been anticipated, multiple authors beg to differ. Hurricane Katrina was “one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent US history” (Waple 5), but one must acknowledge that the government’s obvious disregard for the unstable levees in New Orleans and their poor handling of the aftermath made Hurricane Katrina a social disaster overall.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the government's disregard for the unstable levees in new orleans and their poor handling of the aftermath made hurricane katrina a social disaster overall.
- Analyzes how the noaa report published just months after hurricane katrina made landfall repeatedly compared and ranked it with other major hurricanes.
- Analyzes how michael eric dyson's "levees and lies" chapter of his book, "come hell or high water: hurricane katrina and the color of disaster" highlights how bush and his administration ignored the problem, leaving thousands of citizens at risk.
- Opines that hurricane katrina will always be remembered as an immensely devastating natural disaster, especially by those still struggling, 10 years later, to rebuild their lives.
713 wordsRead More - Hurricane Katrina Essayargumentative essayHurricane Katrina, the most expensive natural disaster in the history of the United States of America, hit the Gulf Coast on the 29th of August 2005, leaving behind an estimated damage worth $125 billion US, and a total death toll of over 1800(Graumann et al., 2006). The essay will discuss why Hurricane Katrina had such a devastating effect on New Orleans, the worst affected area, and the post-disaster recovery process.
In this essay, the author
- Explains hurricane katrina, the most expensive natural disaster in the united states of america, hit the gulf coast on the 29th of august 2005, leaving behind an estimated damage worth $125 billion us and a total death toll of over 1800.
- Explains that geographical factors had a strong influence on hurricane katrina. warm weather and lack of strong winds resulted in an increase in intensity.
- Explains that new orleans was a very vulnerable community before katrina, where 30% of its citizens live under the national poverty line, making it extremely difficult for around 134,000 people to get access to transportation.
- Explains that the wetlands south of new orleans, naturally protect the area from floods, were vanishing due to excessive leveeing and damming around the mississippi river.
- Analyzes how the recovery process highlighted the country's dysfunctional disaster response system. government organisations such as the national guard focused their attention on re-establishing order.
- Concludes that hurricane katrina's total devastation was the result of a disorganised government and socioeconomically disadvantaged community that failed to maintain its natural and infrastructural defence against hazards.
546 wordsRead More - The Hurricane that Humiliated Americaanalytical essayIn this article, the author argues how Katrina raised awareness to many issues in American politics and how Americans, especially those who live in New Orleans, continue to feel the ramifications of the hurricane today. Directly naming Hurricane Katrina to be the "worst disaster ever to befall the U.S.", the author, Rupert Cornwell, explains how a natural disaster such as a hurricane not only physically destroyed New Orleans, but also undermined the Bush administration and the economy of the affected areas. Giving extreme emphasis on the disastrous effects of Katrina such as killing 1,800 people in seven states, causing 90 billion dollars in damage, and leaving one million people homeless, the authors initially describes the history of the hurricane in a very negative tone. In addition to describing the physical effects of Katrina, the author of this narrative blames human begins for the severity of the devastation of the storm, especially exemplified by President George Bush's negligence and the failures of FEMA and its head, Michael Brown. In the article, the author also addresses how New Orleans natives felt "written off by the government". In particular, many African American citizens felt abandoned and ignored by their government in a time of desperation. As the narrative progresses forward to modern history, the author describes how the effects of Katrina still linger today in both negative and positive ways, especially in politics. For example, the author describes how the emigration of so many native African American to cities like Houston and Atlanta directly affect the politics of New Orleans. The author also explains that the devastating effects of a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina greatly brought American atte...
In this essay, the author
- Argues that katrina raised awareness to many issues in american politics and how americans, especially those who live in new orleans, continue to feel the ramifications of the hurricane today.
- Analyzes how cronon's determinant of the message of history, scene, frame, beginning and end points, and the chief agent influence the tone and perspective of a progressive historical narrative.
- Analyzes how cornwell describes the effects of hurricane katrina on the city of new orleans, american politics, and the psyche of the african americans directly affected by the storm.
- Analyzes how cornwall could change the historical narrative of hurricane katrina by altering the scene, frame, beginning and end points, and the agent.
- Concludes that by altering the scene, frame, time, or agent an author can drastically change the perspective an argument of the piece.
1175 wordsRead More - Impact Of Hurricane Katrinaanalytical essayThe population of New Orleans was steadily decreasing, between the years of 2000 and 2005, 30,000 (6%) of the population left New Orleans in search for better lives (4). The declining population shows us that before Hurricane Katrina residence were already considering leaving the city, some push factors leading them away from the city include poverty and unemployment (5). Accord to the U.S 2005 Census Bureau around 23% of the residence lived in poverty, this can be a result of the nearly 12% unemployment rate (5). With an unemployment rate double the national standard and nearly one forth the population living in poverty, the city of New Orleans had many push factors against it resolution in a decline population prier to Hurricane Katrina. At the time of the storm nearly 400,000 residents were displaced from their homes too near by safe areas or other states. The population reming in the city as decreased to a few thousand (6). A month after the disaster when the levee breaches were repaired and the flood water was pumped out of the city, residence were allowed to return to what was left of their homes. The first reliable estimate of the New Orleans population after Hurricane Katrina was an ‘American Community survey’. The survey projected that by the start of 2006 around one third or 158,000 of the population returned. By the middle of f2006 the city
In this essay, the author
- Explains hurricane katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters to happen in the united states. the hurricanes clockwise rotation pulled water from north of new orleans into the city.
- Explains that hurricane katrina changed the lives of the residence who lived there forever. the category 3 storm cost around us$135 billion in damages.
- Analyzes the decline in the population of new orleans after hurricane katrina.
- Analyzes how hurricane katrina added to the many push factors of new orleans such as high unemployment rates and poverty.
- Opines that the rate of recovery is slowing down due to the multiple push factors of new orleans and the pull factors or nearby states.
1195 wordsRead More - Analysis of Dave Egger's Zeitounanalytical essayNiman, Michael I. "KATRINA's AMERICA: Failure, Racism, And Profiteering." Humanist 65.6 (2005): 11. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how zeitoun, in the novel, witnessed looting going around in his own neighborhood. he witnessed it face-to-face, when he was going to check the condition of one of his offices.
- Analyzes how michael i. niman wrote a scholarly text, as katrina's america: failure, racism, and profiteering.
- Analyzes how dave eggers' events of looting are an accurate portrayal with spike lee’s documentary when the levees broke.
- Explains niman, michael i., "katrina's america: failure, racism, and profiteering." humanist 65.6 (2005): 11.
- Analyzes spike lee's documentary "when the levees broke: a requiem in four acts".
- Analyzes how dave eggers' novel, zeitoun, portrays the events of racial profiling and looting.
874 wordsRead More - Media Coverage on Hurricane Katrinaanalytical essayNews of the devastating hurricane Katrina and its economic, political, social, and humanitarian consequences dominated global headlines in an unprecedented manner when this natural catastrophe struck the region of New Orleans in mid August 2005 (Katrinacoverage.com). As a tradition, large-scale disasters like Katrina, inevitably, bring out a combination of the best and the worst news media instincts. As such, during the height of Hurricane Katrina’s rage, many journalists for once located their gag reflex and refused to swallow shallow and misleading excuses and explanations from public officials. Nevertheless, the media’s eagerness to report thinly substantiated rumors may have played a key role in bringing about cultural wreckage that may take the American society years to clean up.
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how fox's greta van susteren conducted an interview with dr. charles burnell, an emergency room doctor practicing in the superdome.
- Analyzes how the international media was eager to regurgitate exaggerated tales of widespread lawlessness, such as the daily star, the australian, and the ottawa citizen.
- Argues that media's eagerness to report thinly substantiated rumors may have played a key role in bringing about cultural wreckage that may take the american society years to clean up.
- Argues that rape is a notoriously underreported crime, perhaps more so under the then prevailing tumultuous circumstances.
- Analyzes how the chicago tribune and the washington post covered hooligans' control over evacuees and essential supplies at the convention center. actual, real events in new orleans go beyond the imagination.
1298 wordsRead More