Steinbeck is writing of a tumultuous time period where social changes and the Civil Rights movement were at their peak. Steinbeck supports the Civil Rights movement, yet his trip takes a downward spin when he observes first hand the kind of ugly hate and bigotry that takes place everyday. He travels through the south, and at this time, the south was a place where controversy and racism were everywhere. Steinbeck views a group of white women, ironically called "cheerleaders," mocking and hissing at the black children that come out of the school. "Her face and little legs were very black against the white of her outfit. The big marshals stood her on the curb and a jangle of jeering shrieks went up from behind the barricades. The little girl did not look at the howling crowd but from the side the whites of her eyes showed like those of a frightened fawn" (194). Steinbeck was so appalled at the people, that he was ashamed to be called an American. It was just unfathomable that people could actually treat other people in such a hostile manner, and the end of Steinbeck's journey is thus destroyed. He was asked if his trip was for pleasure, and he replies, "It was until today" (196). Steinbeck uses this ex

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Approximate Word count = 812
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)