" Zeitoun," by Dave Eggers is a true story based on a family caught between America's worst disaster and response to post 9/11. Zeitoun coming from Syrian descendant is targeted and labeled as a menace to society and a threat to the community. Although his family and him are penetrated by Katrina his hopes are never gone. He faces many crucial racial discrimination's not only on him, but on his company, Zeitoun A.Painting Contractor LLC. "Zeitoun" averts the message on ones ethnicity is unappreciated by society because of the actions done.
Society can be very harsh at times and be very crucial on ones color. For example, "They would call for an estimate and ask Kathy, 'Zeitoun, where's that name come from? Where is he from? And Kathy would say, 'Oh he's Syrian.' Then after a long pause or a shorter one, they would say, 'oh, okay, never mind.' It was rare, but not rare enough."(pg.37) This shows how society isn't valuing the great skills Zeitoun has just because of his race. But also just because of being Syrian descendant he's depicted as a worthless supremacist person. This is also showing how a certain ethnicity of one will determine the kind of opportunities they will face.
Further more, society can be very biased towards a certain race. For example, "I don't like these men, she said, 'What's wrong with'em?' Kathy asked. 'They're swarthy,' she said. 'I only want white people working on my house. She said it like she was choosing a kind of dressing for her salad."(pg. 36) This is showing society's unappreciative towards a certain ethnicity with the mind set of one being superior and better than the other. Sometimes one race will receive greater benefits or pay based on their color.
Moreover, Zeitoun involves more than one social action within it. But a major one can be expressed throughout some hardships of Zeitoun's everyday life. Racism. Society can be looked upon an ignorance built upon the ideal of racism. With Zeitoun you can experience all the heartfelt challenges one felt with the impact of Katrina and post 9/11.
