Invisible Man was written during the decade following World War II. This period is often described as one of the most prosperous economic times in American history. ‘With victory under their belts and money in their pockets, Americans in the 1950s could optimistically pursue the American dream.’ (Brohl, 2001)
One of the aspects of the American Dream in this time was owning a home and having the opportunity to start a family. To make owning a house more affordable, houses were mass-produced especially in the Southwest. The baby boom was well on its way after the return of the GI’s of World War II. By 1954, more than four million babies were being born each year, peaking at 4.3 million in 1957. According to Domestic Engineering (Oct. 1981), ‘Three out of five families became homeowners and suburban living became a national phenomenon.’
By now the focus was on obtaining the ‘perfect American household’. This meant owning a home in the suburbs, a steady income, being married, having a …show more content…
One example is the developing civil rights movement, as Americans began to speak out against injustice and inequality growingly. For centuries, African Americans fought racial discrimination, they believed the American dream would be what they were returning home to after World War II. Instead, they were faced with racial discrimination and segregation. For example, African Americans were unable to find jobs and they were only allowed to live in neighbourhoods assigned to ‘people of their race’. On top of these restricted freedoms, they were denied the right to vote, they had to undergo standardized testing, and were forced to pay separate taxes. After the American Civil War in 1865, black people in southern America were no longer slaves. However, they were never considered equal to White people, they had continued to be second classed citizens throughout their movement to America. (Disadvantages of Black Americans in 1950's,
One of the aspects of the American Dream in this time was owning a home and having the opportunity to start a family. To make owning a house more affordable, houses were mass-produced especially in the Southwest. The baby boom was well on its way after the return of the GI’s of World War II. By 1954, more than four million babies were being born each year, peaking at 4.3 million in 1957. According to Domestic Engineering (Oct. 1981), ‘Three out of five families became homeowners and suburban living became a national phenomenon.’
By now the focus was on obtaining the ‘perfect American household’. This meant owning a home in the suburbs, a steady income, being married, having a …show more content…
One example is the developing civil rights movement, as Americans began to speak out against injustice and inequality growingly. For centuries, African Americans fought racial discrimination, they believed the American dream would be what they were returning home to after World War II. Instead, they were faced with racial discrimination and segregation. For example, African Americans were unable to find jobs and they were only allowed to live in neighbourhoods assigned to ‘people of their race’. On top of these restricted freedoms, they were denied the right to vote, they had to undergo standardized testing, and were forced to pay separate taxes. After the American Civil War in 1865, black people in southern America were no longer slaves. However, they were never considered equal to White people, they had continued to be second classed citizens throughout their movement to America. (Disadvantages of Black Americans in 1950's,