Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation

Freeman writes in his introduction, “How can some of us live when we know others are not experiencing the same comfort?” (xv). Write a response to this question, using what you have learned about the lived experiences of others from the pieces in this anthology.

Freeman’s introduction points to “a lurking feeling of estrangement in America” (xv). How do these essays and poems cope with this estrangement? Provide specific examples from at least four different pieces in this collection.

At the conclusion of his contribution, Chris Offutt comments on the slur “white trash,” pointing out that no one is “trash.” Can you identify an occasion when you heard someone referred to in this manner or treated as “trash?” How did you react and what would you do now if you encountered such a scenario?

Why do both Watkins’s and Alvarez’s personal essays end on hopeful notes? What encourages their optimism?

Several of the contributions to this anthology address white privilege, saviorism, and guilt. Explain these concepts, and discuss how white Americans should address them.

The title of this collection suggests that there are “two Americas” and a single division in the country. Many of the contributions address this partitioning between the haves and have-nots as well as whites and people of color. Do you agree with this assessment, or are there more fault lines, to use Ru Freeman’s term, that divide the nation?

Karen Russell writes about the numbing effect that our despair can cause, writing, “It can be almost comforting to yield to despair” (217). How can one work against a sense of hopelessness in the face of chronic social injustice?

Multiple contributions address homelessness in the United States. What new insights into the social and economic issue did you gain from these pieces? Provide examples from the text in support of your response.