Chapter 5, The American Scene: Page 586-770 Summary and Analysis

James Baldwin is a essayist who focuses largely on racism to fuel his essays. While he often is well spoken he will sometimes begin preaching in his essays with few references to his argument. The essay looked at by Baldwin is "Notes of a Native Son." This essay focuses on Baldwin's life and the race riots that are breaking out in Harlem. It is centered around the death of his father and the events that follow. The other essay by Baldwin used in the book is "Alas Poor Richard." In this essay race is again an issue.

Gore Vidal is fascinated by politics and runs for public office. His essay "Some Memories of the Glorious Bird and an Earlier Self" is given as an example of his work in the book...