The White trash Primer by Lacy Johnson is an enlightening, but heartbreaking story of Lacy’s childhood and teenage years. It is written in second person, as the lady telling the story. This allows the reader to understand her life and to see the difficulties she faced. This effectively conveys to viewers the seriousness of the situation. The second person encourages the viewer to reflect on her experience and those of others.
Prejudice and discrimination in our current culture are persistent obstacles that prevent some people from being promoted or supported. Stereotypes, which are based on actions taken by a few people, can lead to incorrect conclusions about a person’s personality or preferences. For example, white trash is used to denigrate Caucasian Southerners, who are often seen as reactionary and extreme. The term also refers to the depressed southern Caucasian population. Lacy Johnson wanted to show how her preconceptions affected her ability to make ends meet by using the second-person pronoun. This book encourages you to see yourself as an disadvantaged or discriminated person and put yourself in the shoes and experiences of those who are less fortunate.
Use of the term ‘you’ also removes the communication gap between the author’s and readers. It seems that the narrative is a dialogue between the author, the reader and their emotions. This direct interaction confronts the reader and holds them accountable for the prejudices they hold about the poor. Lacy Johnson compares people’s perceptions of life with their actual experiences through the story (Hacker). This narrative aims to teach individuals how to look at the lives of others and not make prejudices.