The short stories included in Unit Two involve protagonists who are in denial of the circumstances surrounding them. In the conclusion of each story, the protagonist comes to a realization about their respective circumstances when confronted with difficult and testing situations. Racism and ethnic identity are major themes in Unit Two that push the narrators to their breaking points, but these pushes are necessary: as a result, each of the main characters reaches an epiphany and will, presumably, be able to change for the better.