Read the following passages:
Passage 1
The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so
intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there
for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on
the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole ship’s cargo
were confined together, it became absolutely pestilential. The
closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to
the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had
scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This pro-
duced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became
unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and
brought on a sickness among the slaves. . . .
—First-person account of conditions on a slave ship
during the Middle Passage, from Olaudah
Equiano, The Life of Gustavus Vassa
Passage 2
The pungent aroma of backed-up toilets, unwashed bodies,
decaying food, mold and who knows what else. Sweltering
heat. An awful din. Rumors of unspeakable crimes. . . .
“I can’t stand to even look at pictures of that time,” said
Terrie Green, 41, who went to the Superdome with her three
children and infant granddaughter on Tuesday, August 30,
after being rescued from their flooded Ninth Ward home.
By the time we got out of there we were all sick. Sick from
the heat, sick from that stink that was there. Just worn out.”
Because of the heat—outside temperatures soared into
the high 90s, and it reached an estimated 125 degrees inside
the Superdome—the family, including little Alea, only 2 days
old when the storm hit, moved to the concourse that runs
around the exterior.
The heat took a toll on the baby, who developed a rash
and became dehydrated. After they evacuated to Houston,
the infant was hospitalized for a week.
“She’s still kind of sickly,” said Green, who remains in
Houston looking for work.
—Description of conditions in the New Orleans
Superdome during Hurricane Katrina, from Mary
Foster, “There was the fear, the heat, the misery,
but most of all—the smell,” Associated Press,
August 27, 2006
Questions:
1. What similarities can you identify between the description of conditions in the two passages?
2. Do you think the comparison of the two situations is valid? In other words, is it accurate or acceptable to compare the two situations? Why? Why not?
3. How might your views on the evacuation of Katrina victims be different, if this hadn't happened in New Orleans, but in a place that had little history of slavery?
4. Would your views be different if you were from a different racial, or ethnic group? If you were poor, rather than middle class? If you were a man, rather than a woman, or a woman, rather than a man?
5. CLICK HERE. Read the account of life for Katrina survivors in the FEMA trailer park known as Renaissance Village. In what ways might conditions in this trailer park be similar to conditions in quarters inhabited by slaves? Is this a valid comparison? Why?
Travis Rivera
ReplyDelete1. the similarities between both passages was basically that every1 was suffercating b/c of the horrible smell that was in the air.
2. um well since they oth were trapped and had nowhere to go u could say so that they were b/c in both passages ppl were suffering from a nasty stencth
3. um it seemed like the evacuation was a chaos b/c ppl kept getting seperated from their familys and they just kept shoving ppl on a plain or boat or w.e the hell they put them on
4. nope not really i would still feel the same.
5.the only comparison they make is the fact that they just took them and place them somwhere that looks like a dump and left them their AGAIN
1. the similarities between the passages are that they are both in bad situations, and going through a difficult time.
ReplyDelete2. i think the comparison between the two passages are valid because in both of the passages the people are trapped, and being held against their will.
3. my views would still be the same. i think that a lot could of been done a lot sooner to help the people evacuate, and to help the people after the hurricane hit.
4. my opinions would still be the same. a lot of things could have been done sooner. i don't think race, gender, or social class should change a persons views.
5. the trailer park can relate to how slaves lived because it was a space where you didn't have anything. it was not a pretty area, and it did not seem like it was cared for.
-erica castagliola
Chris Marks
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
1.The similarities between both passages are they both talk about the horrific smells from the homes after Katrina. They also talked briefly explained how people were getting sick.
2. The comparison of the similarities of both passages is valid because people died in there homes of sicknesses, drowning, and they were trapped there until someone came and rescued them.
3. My views would not have changed because regardless of slavery happening or not it was still a horrible natural disaster and it shouldn't have to happen to anybody. People lost there parents, there family, and there homes.
4. My views would stay the same if i was a different race because it all depends on how your heart is and your feelings towards others. My views will not change regardless of anything, it was horrible what had happened to them.
5. The trailer park can relate to the slave times by in the trailers it is really compact and not much room, and no one has money just like the slaves. They didn't have money nor a legit house to sleep in.
1. The similarities between the two passages was that they both explain the awful smells around them that had made them sick, and worn out.
ReplyDelete2. The comparison of the similarities of both passages is valid because although it isn't the exact same scenario, the circumstances are the same; people died from horrific smells due to the situations they were in.
3. My views would not have changed regardless if there was a history of slavery in the town.
4. My views would still stay the same if i was a different race or gender. Black, white, asian, male, female, rich or poor, things like this shouldn't happen to anybody.
5. The trailer park can relate to slave times because the trailers were very small and you basically were living in a box. It was also poorly taken care of.
-mia martinez.