In the next three chapters I read in Why New Orleans Matters they again talked a lot about food but also Jazz Festival, Mardi Gras and other festivities. Food seems to play in important role in the lives of New Orleans residents and even a bigger role when it comes to the festivals. Piazza talks of the Jazz Festival he attended and all of the famous singers that came through New Orleans and some that he saw at the event. He says that the main reason people come to the Jazz Festival is to "hear the local heroes." As I was reading this I was wanting to be there because this even just seems like so much fun and a place where all people come together and can celebrate as one.
After the chapter about all the fun they have, he gets more serious and starts talking about the rich and the poor. In New Orleans, people are not separated as much due to their social status and how much money they have; mainly the people stick together. I was confused on how he talks about how their is no separation between blacks and whites but in the next paragraph he tells us how blacks are treated and how it is not so nice. To bring the mood back up, Piazza tells us about how New Orleans never changes, meaning the characteristics of it and the places. Reading all three of these chapters made me realize that New Orleans is a place of unity and loves to go by tradition.
You are doing a great job at close reading. I like how you picked up on patterns of things like food and festivals. You noticed an emotions shift between the first three chapters and 4-6; why do you think Piazza does this? What do you think about this contradiction you noticed between the discussion about how blacks and whites are treated?
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