The Other America by David Hwang

Michael Harrington's The Other America: A Poverty in the United States uncovers the extreme conditions many poor Americans endured during the post World War II era. Forty million, or one in every four Americans lived below the poverty line during this time of supposed economic prosperity. Much of these 40 million impoverished Americans were members of minority groups that include Latinos, African Americans, and Native Americans.
A large portion of this crisis was caused by the mass movement of middle-class white Americans moving into the suburbs while millions of African Americans migrated from the rural south to the inner city in hopes of finding jobs. With the loss of the economically valued middle-class in these urban centers, many businesses along with public services failed.
To help remedy the crisis, the National Housing Act of 1949 was passed to provide much needed housing in the urban area. The act intended to convert rundown areas into clean, affordable housing. Instead, much of the demolished property was used for factories, highways, and shopping centers.
Despite the numerous problems in their economic situation, African Americans made momentous leaps in civil rights. Mexican Americans inspired by the success of the African American civil rights movement. Ignacio Lopez founded the Unity League of California to promote and register Mexican-American voting. Native Americans made some steps toward equality with the Passing of the Indian Reorganization Act. However in spite of these immense gains, equality was still far from reach.
With civil rights still in its infancy, and the economic situation in the tank, the post war U.S. should not be always remembered as a pristine and joyous era. Instead one should remember this nation as a whole. There should be no memory of another, but only one and true United States.