The Other America

Millions of middle-class white Americans left cities for the suburbs in the 1950's, isolating themselves from other races, and classes. This act became known as the "white flight." Meanwhile, the rural poor began entering cities, causing cities to lose taxes, and business, and eventually leading to the fact that they couldn't properly maintain schools, transportation, police, and other common facilities. Poverty grew rapidly in the United States.

Slums were crowded with African Americans, Native Americans, and Lation's. The National Housing Act of 1945 was passed to help with urban renewal. This meant that tearing down rundown neighborhoods and replacing them with low-income housing would be the solution to getting every family a suitable home. Most people only moved from one ghetto to another though, and many call it urban removal instead.

The braceros program began in 1942, trying to allow Mexican's to go into the United States in order to harvest crops. However, once the employment ended, many remained in the US illegally, and an large additional amount arrived too, in order the escape the poor conditions of Mexico. Later, after Texas refused the burial of Mexican American World War II hero, Felix Longoria, the Mexican American verterans organized the G.I forum. Meanwhile, activist Ignacio Lopez founded the Unity League of California to help register voters, and give support to those who may help their interests.

In 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act moved to Native American autonomy, since the Native Americans were still named as 2nd class citizens. The National Congress of American Indians was later formed in 1944, to ensure civil rights, and enable Navies on reservations to keep their customs. Later in 1953, the termination policy eliminated federal economic support, discontinued the reservation system, and distributed tribal lands among individual Americans. The Indian Affairs began a program to help Natives settle in the cities. Poor training, and racial prejudice prevented them to find jobs though.