The Beats popularized and subverted the idea of being “down and out” or on the fringes of society as a rebellion against the establishment. However, the grand ideas of license, liberty, and reclaiming adversity ultimately fell flat, co-opting marginalized groups and people who really were “down and out.” Though the Beats changed American culture forever, they failed to make a place for everyone to come to the table, specifically the ones whose experiences they appropriated.