The Other America

1. The Other America For many Americans, the 1950s were a time of unprecedented prosperity. However, not everyone experienced this well-being. In the “other” America, about 40 million people lived in poverty, untouched by the economic boom. Despite the portrait painted by pop culture, this concept of the “nifty fifties” did not exist for everyone. What the heck happened? White Flight – Millions of middle class white Americans leave the cities for suburban life, taking with them economic resources and isolating themselves from other races and classes. Rural poor migrate to the cities at the same time, by 1950 nearly 5 million African Americans had migrated from the rural south to the urban north The cities lose money from income tax and businesses that followed the middle class. Cities cannot afford to maintain schools or improve conditions. Urban poor live in slums and the cities cannot afford to do anything about it. Urban Renewal – The National Housing Act of 1949 is passed, meant to provide ‘a decent home and suitable living conditions for every American family.’ This act tore down rundown neighborhoods and built low income housing. Dilapidated areas are torn down and new shopping centers, parking lots, highways parks and factories were built in their place. Nicknamed, urban removal because it displaced thousands of poor who just moved into different ghettos.

2. The Other America For many Americans, the 1950s were a time of unprecedented prosperity. However, not everyone experienced this well-being. In the “other” America, about ______________ people lived in poverty, untouched by the economic boom. Despite the portrait painted by pop culture, this concept of the “_______________” did not exist for everyone. What the heck happened? ____________________– Millions of middle class white Americans leave the cities for suburban life, taking with them economic resources and _____________ themselves from other races and classes. Rural poor migrate to the cities at the same time, by 1950 nearly _____________ African Americans had migrated from the ___________ south to the ____________ north The cities lose money from _____________________________ that followed the middle class. Cities cannot afford to ___________ schools or _____________conditions. Urban poor live in slums and the cities cannot afford to do anything about it. ___________________________– The National Housing Act of 1949 is passed, meant to provide ‘a _________ home and ___________ living conditions for every American family.’ This act said they would tear down ______________ neighborhoods and build low income housing. Dilapidated areas are torn down and new shopping centers, parking lots, highways parks and factories were built in their place. Nicknamed, _____________________ because it displaced ________________of poor who just moved into different ghettos. Based on this information what can you predict will happen in the 1960s? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________