What does it mean to be white and working class in America? The white working-class are alternately hailed as the backbone of American society and sidelined as ignorant hoards. Are there any defining features of such a huge group or are they defined by what they are not? We will explore these ideas through several texts such as “Bastard out of Carolina” by Dorthy Allison, “Winter’s Bone” by Daniel Woodrell, “Educated” by Tara Westover, “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance, and “White Rage” by Carol Anderson. We will be examining images, film, fiction, and nonfiction. We will read one common text as a class, students will read an additional text in a small reading group and complete reading reflections as well as a culminating writing project.