Jumpstart Your Paper

Browse our Free Essay examples and check out our Writing tools to get your assignments done.

When the Levees Broke

INSTRUCTIONS:

Watch When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts by Spike Lee. Here you can find Parts I & 2 and Parts 3 & 4, though they are available elsewhere. While viewing the film, take note of your reactions, questions, and thoughts as you experience them. Afterwards, write a 3 to 4 page reaction paper addressing the following points a) Describe at least two people/stories (along with any quotes) from the film that most impacted you, and explain what about them resonated with you. b) Reflect on the culpability for the death toll, displacement and the rest of the outcomes of Hurricane Katrina. With respect to the “pre-sponse” (preparation), response, and the aftermath, who was most responsible? How much responsibility and accountability lies with the victims? With the local government? With the state government? With the federal government? Somewhere else? c) Analyze the role race and/or class played with respect to the outcomes. Why did the disaster have such a disproportionate, catastrophic, and lasting impact on the poor, and People of Color? d) Describe at least two actions that you perceived as incredibly unethical: Who committed these transgressions? Who was the affected party? What impact did it have? What was unethical about it? Why do you think these actions were carried out? e) Lastly, as Public Health workers, what do you hope we have learned as a country with respect to preparedness and response in emergencies in order to prevent continued large losses of life? How well do you think we applied these lessons to Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico, and Hurricane Dorian and the Bahamas? f) Additional reflections are welcome including any questions that arose for you, and/or what could have been done differently.
Related Topics: