We are not as divided as our politics suggests that we are one people, we are one nation and together we will begin the next great chapter in the American story. When America elected a mixed-race president in 2008, many people had high hopes he would

help to unite the country.

But eight years later, as Barack Obama's second term comes to an end, anger's been spilling

onto the streets, and the United States seems more divided than ever. Weigh!

Weeks before Mr Obama was elected, I was on board the BBC bus that drove coast to coast across this country, asking people about their their lives hopes and fears for the

future. Now the BBC's setting out to retrace the route we took eight years ago

to ask if this president's lived up to his promises.

You can listen to the first part of that journey from California to Texas

with reporter Philippa Thomas in part one of America revisited. Today producer Ben Kreiten and I are picking up where she left off.

So Ben what's the plan?

Well, over the next couple of weeks we'll be putting in some serious miles, well over a thousand, in fact.

We'll be driving across Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and ending up in Nashville, Tennessee, the famous country music city.

So I think I've remembered my driving license. My name is Lee Dardy. I'm the owner of Alexander's Bar here on Cedar Springs. This has been a centralized focus

for the LGBT community for over 30 years.

Who do thought that Dallas, a city known for its conservative politics and religious values

would have such an established gay community.

Eight years ago I was here for the city's

massive pride carnival.

Things are a little more subdued today, but Lee, who has piercing blue eyes and wears faded jeans, shows me around an area full of lively clubs and bars.

We're about to pass by J.R.S.

J.s have been there about 30 years and from memory serves me correct it was the first gay

to have windows. They weren't windows on gay bars before. 30 years ago now because

...