The Other AmericaPost World War II many Americans

were not living the “American dream”, and lived below the poverty level

By: Navin, Rebecca, Marc, Julia

Pascack Hills High School

Ms. Jane Yeam, History

White Flight

• World War II caused many Americans to exchange their urban lives for suburban lives. On the contrary, the poor moved to the inner cities

• This shift inpower made the cities unable to pay for public services. With poor inner city care, the poor suffered while the upper middle class white people thrived

The Inner Cities• As poverty grew,

much denial filled the minds of society

• Everyone found in hard to believe that a nation on Earth as powerful and rich as America could ever have the existence of poverty

Urban Renewal• The National Housing Act passed in 1949

that would provide “a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family.”

• American leader’s created a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) cabinet position to improve conditions in inner cities

• Along with private properties, the government created many parking lots, shopping centers, highways, parks, and factories on cleared land

• However, this was not nearly enough to accommodate all of the displaced people

Poverty Leads to ActivismDuring the 1950s, a

political voice and awareness started to develop, thus reducing racial discrimination and segregation

Mexicans Seek Employment• During WW2 many Mexican American citizens were hired to

work the agricultural fields• These braceros, or hired hands were only here to work for a

short amount of time. However, many stayed illegally and sought jobs well after the war ended

• America was a good place to escape the poor conditions in Mexico. The braceros stayed after being brought here from WW2

The Longoria Incident

• The Longoria Incident was an act of prejudice against Felix Longoria

• Longoria was a Mexican-American war hero who was refused burial because he was Mexican

• The Mexican-American community was outraged by this and sprung into action to combat prejudice

• In California they fought for the right for Mexican-Americans to vote as well as many other rights

Native Americans Continue Their Struggle

• Native Americans during the 1930’s were discriminated and forced to become Americanized instead of retaining their own cultural

• In 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act moved to allow Native Americans to retain their unique cultural

• Because of the Great Depression, Native Americans were forced to improve their own lives

• The National Congress of American Indians insure Native Americans the same civil rights of white Americans and allowed Native Americans on reservations to keep their own customs

• Many Native Americans left their reservations to fight in WW2. However, when the war ended much Native American land was exploited by outsiders

The Termination Policy

• Under the termination policy the Federal Government gave up the responsibility for Native American tribes

• Natives were given land, but couldn’t get jobs due to a lack of trading and racism

• Their policy had failed

What is the Other America?

• The other America was the America beyond Perfect, “America-Dream” America.

• The other America was comprised of diverse groups of people.

• The other America was the minorities and the poor that comprised the real America