Week 12 Reflection: The 1950's & Suburbanization
The 1950s had a significant cultural and historical effect on America. After World War 2, the economy saw remarkable growth, and the Cold War fueled industrial production. The 1950s were referred to as a decade of "affluent society" due to increased consumerism. The overall GNP grew by 250%, and the baby boom increased the population by 20%. At this time, Americans were encouraged to consume because it was good for the economy and the nation. The mass production of products, like cars, made commuting possible, which led to the building of Highways that led to the suburbs. Forty thousand miles of highway was built to link cities to suburbs and promote the use of cars. Many white Americans could now afford homeownership and spent their money on homes and consumer goods. Suburbanization hardened the racial divisions, and overall, 7 million whites left the cities for the suburbs. Suburbs mainly consisted of white neighborhoods and brand new homes. During the 1950s, suburbanization and the development of inner-city poverty are directly related. As white people moved to the suburbs, urban areas became mostly inhabited by non-whites and became overrun by poverty. Most whites began to view urban areas as a place of crime, poverty, and welfare and strengthened racial stereotypes. Black families were not allowed to buy homes in the suburban white regions, and when a black family moved into a white area, many white homeowners would pack up their stuff and leave immediately. This is known as "white flight," an effect of a process called blockbusting. Blockbusting is when real estate agents convince white owners to sell their homes at low prices in fear that an area will become crime-ridden due to racial minorities moving. Although black were still highly discriminated against, in 1954 Brown V. Board of Education desegregated schools, allowing black students to join white students in classrooms everywhere.
When I think about the 1950s, I think about conformity and a picture-perfect life. Every middle-class white family lives the same way, with the same homes and the same tv and the same cars. Most suburbanites were young, two-parent families with children where the husband works and the wife stays at home and cooks and cleans. Everyone lived in the same Levittown style homes, and it is the spitting image of suburbia. In response to the essay equation, I still believe that success (especially in these circumstances) does not only depend on hard work. If blacks living in American cannot even have equal housing rights, how will they achieve wealth and success? The system intentionally puts racial minorities down so that we cannot reach the wealth and prosperity that our white counterparts receive.
An African American girl integrating a white classroom after Brown v. Board of Education
When I think about the 1950s, I think about conformity and a picture-perfect life. Every middle-class white family lives the same way, with the same homes and the same tv and the same cars. Most suburbanites were young, two-parent families with children where the husband works and the wife stays at home and cooks and cleans. Everyone lived in the same Levittown style homes, and it is the spitting image of suburbia. In response to the essay equation, I still believe that success (especially in these circumstances) does not only depend on hard work. If blacks living in American cannot even have equal housing rights, how will they achieve wealth and success? The system intentionally puts racial minorities down so that we cannot reach the wealth and prosperity that our white counterparts receive.
An African American girl integrating a white classroom after Brown v. Board of Education
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3427
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3429
The 50's were certainly a time for growth and we saw that across all business and how the economy grew. This was certainly one of the best time in American history for the economy similar to the 1920's. However, the 50's were plagued by racism because people were still on their high horse for which race was "superior" Instead of coexisting they were trying to make a competition.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post love! Its crazy because during the 1900's, it was like every decade was something new. The 50's was a decade of transformation, progression, and a huge turning point in americas history and i think you did a wonderful job at making that evident. Great job!
ReplyDeleteHey this is very beautifully written. This was a very crucial time in my eyes to the united states it was time to expand. The highway helped us do that it helped us move troops move weapons and just let citizens get around faster. Just think about if they did not build them where we would be today, I could not even imagine. This also created a lot of jobs for people that were unemployed. This helped cities grow and become who they are today.
ReplyDeleteHey Aleena, nice blog and well written. I like your understanding of how 1950s was an expansion as well as the suburbanization. The picture you choose was also interesting, as you showed a picture of a black and white girl in a school setting. Showing that race was still a big part and eventually play a bigger role.
ReplyDeleteHey Aleena, nice blog and well put together. i love your how you put this together. especially when you said When I think about the 1950s, I think about conformity and a picture-perfect life. Every middle-class white family lives the same way, with the same homes and the same tv and the same cars. Most suburbanites were young, two-parent families with children where the husband works and the wife stays at home and cooks and cleans. i agree keep up the good posts.
ReplyDeleteHey Aleena, I strongly agree with your closing comment about African Americans not having equal opportunities as whites to achieve wealth and success. I believe that white people think with too many successful African Americans they’ll be in “danger”.
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