As an adult, Wright has a different perspective of his father than he did when he was a child.
In the passage the speaker talks about his father when he says, "there had not been handed to him a chance". This makes it seem as though the speaker understands that his father did not have much of a choice. Then at the end of the passage the speaker says "I forgave him, and pitied him as my eyes look past him to the unpainted wooden shack." These details show that there has been some type of change in the speaker in regards to his father. At one point he may have blamed his father and been angry with him, but this frustration or annoyance is no longer there for the speaker. The way the speaker views his father has changed since he was a boy.
Yes it is correct "can't"
The nation is peaceful and free would be the correct answer.
