ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that randomness exerts a profound influence in shaping the course of our lives. In short, the random factor played a profound role in the ability of people to achieve or not achieve the American dream. In America, the authors like to believe that they have agency over their destiny-that the future is predicated on their current actions and behaviors. Yet as will be abundantly clear, within such routines are endless ripples of randomness that can affect and bend the wider currents that push our lives forward. But within these powerful currents of social class, race, and gender, there are considerable ripples of randomness as well. Finally, the types of ripples of randomness that they experience will be influenced by the stronger currents that they find ourselves in. The random factor had placed her at the heart of the controversy, and it shaped both her life as well as the direction of the country.
