Jeremiah Ziaty Character Analysis in Outcasts United

The youngest son of Beatrice Ziaty, and the younger brother of Darlington and Mandela. Jeremiah escaped with the rest of his family from Liberia, after watching his father be killed in their home. Jeremiah is the first Ziaty brother to join the Fugees, on their Under Thirteens team. He is dedicated to the team and grows very close with Luma, even refusing to eat pork because she doesn’t eat it.

Jeremiah Ziaty Quotes in Outcasts United

The Outcasts United quotes below are all either spoken by Jeremiah Ziaty or refer to Jeremiah Ziaty. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Refugees, Discrimination, and Resilience Theme Icon

The incident robbed Beatrice of the hope her family would be safe in her new home. She became obsessed with her boys’ safety. In Liberia, a neighbor would always look after her kids if she needed to leave them to run an errand or visit a friend. But Beatrice didn’t know anyone in Clarkston.

Related Characters: Warren St. John (speaker), Mandela Ziaty, Beatrice Ziaty, Darlington Ziaty, Jeremiah Ziaty

Page Number and Citation: 24

Explanation and Analysis:

“For a while I expected you to be like Jeremiah,” she told him. “Actually, you’re a better athlete—but you don’t have the discipline or the respect to play. You don’t respect me, and you don’t respect your team.”

Related Characters: Luma al-Mufleh (speaker), Warren St. John (speaker), Mandela Ziaty, Jeremiah Ziaty

Page Number and Citation: 165

Explanation and Analysis:

Jeremiah Ziaty Character Timeline in Outcasts United

The timeline below shows where the character Jeremiah Ziaty appears in Outcasts United. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...to survive a civil war in Monrovia, Liberia. Beatrice has a husband and four sons: Jeremiah, Mandela, Darlington, and Erich. Rival armies have destroyed the city, and civilians are often caught... (full context)

...no money, they beat him to death while she flees with three of her sons: Jeremiah, Mandela, and Darlington. (full context)

Beatrice, Jeremiah, Mandela, and Darlington make it out of Monrovia alive, though Beatrice is unable to find... (full context)

Community and Teamwork vs. Division Theme Icon

Jeremiah Ziaty is overjoyed to hear about the creation of a free soccer program. He loves... (full context)

In June of 2004, Luma arrives at the center for tryouts, and so does Jeremiah Ziaty—defying Beatrice and sneaking out while she is at work. He takes the field along... (full context)

After tryouts, Jeremiah makes the team. But when Beatrice finds out about the soccer team, she scolds him,... (full context)

...practices, the boys slowly tell Luma more and more about their pasts. Luma discovers that Jeremiah watched his father be beaten to death; another kid was forced by soldiers to shoot... (full context)

Discipline, Dedication, and Success Theme Icon

One afternoon, when Luma is driving Jeremiah home, he admits that he’s hungry, but it’s “that time of the month”— the time... (full context)

...like a stand-in mother. Two of the most talented players on the oldest Fugees team, Jeremiah’s older brother Darlington and an Iraqi player named Peshawa Hamid, spend months fighting for Luma’s... (full context)

...dinner, and over time learn what she likes. The boys pick up her habits, too: Jeremiah insists to Beatrice that he will not eat pork, because Luma (as a Muslim) doesn’t... (full context)

...as a refugee; he’s lived in the United States for seven years. At first, when Jeremiah joins the Fugees, he is hesitant to play on the team. He doesn’t want other... (full context)

Beatrice constantly reminds Mandela, Darlington, and Jeremiah, of the life that they had in Liberia and their tough journey to America. She... (full context)

...from a nearby town. The Fugees quickly gain a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jeremiah and Qendrim, but Luma isn’t satisfied by halftime. She tells her players that they’re starting... (full context)

...and after Luma moves Bien from defense to offense, he makes an amazing bicycle kick. Jeremiah scores again, and Bien lobs a ball that allows Qendrim to execute a perfect header... (full context)

...is like “a secret weapon” she can keep hidden on defense for the first half, Jeremiah can kick with his left and right foot equally well, and Qendrim is a good... (full context)

...or he could get mugged or shot. A few days later, Beatrice overhears Mandela tell Jeremiah that he wants to talk to Luma. Beatrice tries to inquire why he wants to... (full context)

...At halftime, Luma tells them to score even more, keep calm, and have fun. Soon, Jeremiah controls a pass and fires a clear shot that slips between the goalie’s fingers. A... (full context)

...kick the ball into the goal. The Fugees are ahead 2-1. A few minutes later, Jeremiah takes a cannon shot from fifteen yards out, scoring a beautiful goal. Luma tells them... (full context)

...Fugees come out shooting, going after every ball. With eight minutes left in the half, Jeremiah carves through the Fire defense and scores. Luma gathers them at halftime and tells them... (full context)

...money, and that they need to ask themselves what they would do for their team. Jeremiah takes up this request: he and other boys rake leaves to make up the extra... (full context)