Week 12: 1950s America
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| In the 1950s the use of automobiles became highly influenced, especially with over 400,000 miles of highway built. After WW2, there was an amazing growth in the economy. As we know with change comes more change. As the economy grew separation was still very visible. Residential construction and spending on consumer goods became very popular. During this era become a homeowner was a dream. Home ownership wasn't as easy for blacks as it was for whites. The 1950s brought the rise of Suburbans, neighborhoods dedicated to whites. While suburbans were developing urban cities were changing. 7 million whites left the city to move into suburbs, while 3 million blacks moved to the cities. The neighborhoods for blacks were often called ghetto, and thought to be high crime areas, poverty, and needed welfare. Welfare was supposed to be the government's way of helping the housing community, but the government does not play fair. The government provided much more help to the middle class whites than to the poor. To me that was sad, I feel to this day the government does not help much with poverty especially in black communities. There were people who tried to help communities by providing low cost homes, unfortunately this only benefited whites. William J. Levitt, who opened up a sales office for the new development of cheaper single-family homes. Levitt used the method made famous by Henry Ford known as the production line which broke down the construction of homes into 26 separate steps. He cut costs by eliminating basements and giving every couple the exact same floor plan. This lesson relates back to the final essay question showing that you can still work hard and not be as successful as someone else due to many reasons but in this event mainly race. Hopefully as we continue to learn more things get better for the culture. Bibliography:Website: Digital history PowerPoint: 1950s America Picture: 1950s scenery |
Yes! this seem like a wonderful time for growth, I just that african americans would not experience those things. Overall I love how you acknowledged Mr.levitt accomplishments because I though he only built the suburbs, turned out he has done more than that.
ReplyDeleteThis would have been a game changer for African Americans. But of course, we always get the leftovers. The cities were mislabeled because the white people operated in fear. The participated in blockbusting and it only made life harder for African Americans. With the inflated cost for lower quality leftovers, they made it so the cities were labeled as the ghetto and the hood. I can only imagine the difference if African Americans were given the same benefits as whites.
ReplyDeleteI liked your blog, I liked you provided info about Levitt and how is format was likened to Henry Ford. It was crazy how whites Fled the city out of fear and black fled to the city trying to live a better lifestyle, It crazy what was was once know as great living, now because violent, just because a different race occupies it.
ReplyDeleteI liked that you touched base with all parts of this week's assignment. You were straight forward with the information that you presented and made valid points in what you said. It is crazy that when whites moved from the neighborhoods they originally to suburbs now those very neighborhoods are seen as ghettos.
ReplyDeleteBlockbusting was a way for people to benefit off of the unfortunate circumstances of the time. Blacks were treated horribly but this is nothing new at this point. This was a way to continue to shift a negative connotation on blacks by saying the areas they were primarily in were ghettos.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very detailed and convincing. I like the image you provided. It basically sums up what America was all about during the fifties. The car also ensured a since of social status amongst society. I like how you also touched on how whites feared blacks. But why would they when they are responsible for stealing land, heritage and etc?
ReplyDelete