Final answer:
America has not reached its full potential due to social and economic inequalities, racial and ethnic discrimination, persecution of minority groups, and interventionist foreign policies, which have fostered division and undermined the nation's democratic ideals.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Hughes and other cultural critics, several specific things have interfered with America reaching its potential. These interferences include economic disparities symbolized by the poverty line, racial and ethnic discrimination, and the persecution of minority groups, highlighting a stark gap between the ideals of American democracy and the lived realities of many of its citizens.
In the early Cold War period, the persecution of homosexuals and the attack on leftist ideologies, reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials as mentioned by Arthur Miller, served to undermine the nation's foundational principles of freedom and equality.
The push for civil rights and the addressing of these violations through direct action and the courts represent efforts to confront and alleviate these symptoms of disparity. Moreover, America's interventionist foreign policies in Latin American countries fostered a legacy of resentment and can be seen as an extension of the 'Gap Tool,' a metaphorical device used to maintain divisions among people.
This gap was both a cause and a consequence of the nation not fully realizing its ideals, such as genuine human brotherhood, racial equality, cultural contributions from diverse groups, voting rights, education, and the overall aspiration toward a more unified and equitable society.