Two American Families: 1991-2024

At the heart of the American dream lies the belief that hard work can secure a living and lay a foundation for a better life for one's children. But when diligent labor isn't enough to get ahead—or even ensure basic financial stability—what then? Two American Families: 1991-2024 is a two-hour documentary filmed over more than 30 years, a FRONTLINE special that offers a portrait of perseverance from FRONTLINE, Bill Moyers, and filmmakers Tom Casciato and Kathleen Hughes and raises unsettling questions about the changing nature of the American economy and its impact on people struggling to make a living. Set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it follows two families — one Black, the Stanleys, and one white, the Neumanns — who have spent the past 34 years battling to keep from sliding into poverty, and who refuse to give up despite the economic challenges that their stories reveal.