Cleage's play, Bourbon at the Border (1997), delves into themes similar to those in Flyin’ West, such as racism, resilience, and hardship. The narrative centers around a black voter registration campaign in the southern United States in 1964. In the aftermath of the ensuing violence and deaths, the two protagonists grapple with understanding the chaos and yearn to escape and begin anew.

Zora Neale Hurston's renowned novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), tells the story of an African-American woman who was acquitted of murdering her third husband. The book is celebrated for its authentic use of dialect and its exploration of themes like self-identity, female camaraderie, and gender dynamics within the black community.

Kansas and the Homestead Act, 1862–1905 (1979), authored by Lawrence Bacon Lee and edited by Stuart Bruchey, provides students with a comprehensive examination of the Homestead Act. It discusses the factors that led to its enactment and its impact on the expansion of the American West.

Anna Quindlen's novel, Black and Blue (1998), addresses the issue of domestic abuse in a modern context. After finally escaping her violent husband, Fran Benedetto takes her son to start afresh, yet she constantly fears being found by her husband. Quindlen explores the emotional challenges faced by women in abusive relationships and portrays how Fran's devotion to her son drives her to transform her life.