Zeitoun runs a construction company.
Which of the following statements best describes Zeitoun’s attitude about the storm?
Based on this passage, what are Zeitoun’s goals in the days following Katrina?
Zeitoun saw himself as someone trying to help after the storm. How do the police officers see him?
How did the events of 9/11 cause Zeitoun to experience Hurricane Katrina not just as a natural disaster, but also as a cultural conflict?
The events of 9/11 created a climate of suspicion and profiling toward Muslim and Arab Americans, which transformed Zeitoun's experience of Hurricane Katrina from a natural disaster into a cultural conflict. Despite Zeitoun's humanitarian actions—such as using his canoe to rescue neighbors and feed stranded animals—he was viewed through the lens of post-9/11 prejudice. Instead of being recognized as a hero, he was arrested by militarized authorities, held in a makeshift prison, and denied his basic rights because he was profiled as a potential terrorist. This treatment highlights the clash between his actual identity as a helpful citizen and the negative cultural perceptions fueled by the aftermath of 9/11.
Zeitoun was too busy to evacuate before the storm.
Which of the following did you include in your answer?
Many people decided to leave town before the storm arrived.
Most people did not know that the hurricane was going to hit New Orleans.
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