"A SEPARATE CULTURE...WITH ITS OWN WAY OF LIFE"
New York City (JFK+50) On March 19, 1962, Michael Harrington's* The Other America: Poverty in the United States.** was published. The book would have a powerful influence on President John F. Kennedy's views on federal anti-poverty programs.
Michael Harrington, a social activist, served as Chairman of the Democratic Socialists of America from 1982 to 1989.
The Boston Globe wrote that Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps and expanded Social Security were all programs traceable to Harrington's ideas.
Michael Harrington wrote...
"Clothes make the poor invisible. America has the best-dressed poverty the world has ever known."
*Edward Michael Harrington, Jr. (1928-1989) was born in St. Louis and educated at the University of Chicago, Holy Cross & Yale Law School. The Atlantic describes EMH as "the most charismatic figure on the American left in the past half century."
**The Other America, published by Macmillan, made the argument that despite its apparent post-WWII prosperity, the United States was a nation of millions of its people living in abject poverty.
SOURCE
"The (Still) Relevant Socialist", by Harold Meyerson, The Atlantic, August 2000, www.theatlantic.com/
Michael Harrington
JFK+50: Volume 6, No. 1893
THE OTHER AMERICA PUBLISHED 54 YEARS AGO TODAY
New York City (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, March 19, 1962, Michael Harrington* published The Other America: Poverty in the United States. Mr. Harrington expected to sell only about a thousand copies, but to date it has sold over a million.
Harrington wrote that "poverty in the...United States was both extensive and more tenacious than most Americans assumed." He estimated that in 1962 at least 25% of the population of the United States lived in poverty. He wrote...
"(The poor) are not simply neglected and forgotten (but), much worse, they are not seen."
The Other America was brought to the attention of President John F. Kennedy by a review of the book written by Dwight Macdonald in The New Yorker magazine.
It is believed that Harrington's words influenced both President Kennedy as well as his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. The ultimate result, of course, was "The War on Poverty."
Business Week called The Other America "a classic work" on poverty.
In 2011, Maurice Isserman pointed out that poverty in America had not gone away with the passage of time. He wrote that 46 million Americans were then living below the poverty line set at $22,314 for a family of four.
*Edward Michael Harrington (1928-1989) was born in St. Louis & educated at Holy Cross, Yale Law School and the University of Chicago. He was a founding member of Democratic Socialists of America. EMH published more than fifty books.
SOURCE
"50 Years Later: Poverty and the Other America," by Maurice Isserman, Winter 2012, www.dissentmagazine.org/
"Clothes make the poor invisible. America has the best-dressed poverty the world has ever known."
Michael Harrington
Michael Harrington
March 19, 1962
"THE OTHER AMERICA" IS PUBLISHED
Educator & social activist Michael Harrington published today The Other America: Poverty in the United States.*
*The book influences JFK's views on federal anti-poverty strategy which will ultimately result in LBJ's "War on Poverty".
Michael Harrington served as Chairman of the Democratic Socialists of America from 1982 to 1989.
The Boston Globe editorialized that Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps & expanded Social Security were all traceable to Harrington's ideas.
Here is a quote from Michael Harrington that I find interesting:
"Clothes make the poor invisible. America has the best-dressed poverty the world has ever known."
Michael Harrington
March 19, 1957
ELVIS PUTS DOWN PAYMENT ON "GRACELAND"
Elvis Presley shelled out $1000 today for a down payment on a Southern colonial mansion located in Memphis, Tennessee known as "Graceland".
It is reported that Elvis bought the 13.8 acre estate for $102,500.
The estate will become not only home to Elvis, but also to his parents, grandmother & the "Memphis Mafia".*
*Elvis, who died in 1977, willed the estate to his daughter Lisa Marie. "Graceland", now open to the public, is the most visited home in the US next to the White House.
"Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee"
Photo by Jan Kronsell (2002)
March 19, 1949
EAST GERMANY APPROVES NEW CONSTITUTION
In response to the U.S. policy to establish an independent free West Germany, Communist East Germany today approved its own constitution.*
In October 1949, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was established earlier in March 1949.
In 1990, with the collapse of the communist government, Germany was reunified.
March 19, 1945
HITLER ISSUES "NERO DECREE"
With Germany being invaded by Allied armies, Adolf Hitler today ordered that all German industries, military installations, shops, transportation & communication facilities be destroyed to prevent their use by the enemy.*
*The Nero Decree was to be carried out by Albert Speer, Hitler's Minister of Armaments & War Production, but he deliberately did not do so.
Albert Speer, 1946
March 19, 1932
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE OPENS
The world's longest spanning arch bridge as well as the tallest steel arch bridge in the world was officially opened today in Sydney, Australia.*
*Today the Sydney Harbour Bridge carries 6 lanes of traffic as well as 2 railway lines & a foot & bicycle path.
When my daughter, Jennifer, & myself visited Sydney this past July, the 1st photo she wanted me to take of her in Australia was in front of the famous Harbour Bridge. Here is that photo (she takes after her mother).
Jennifer Leigh White in Sydney
March 19, 1916
1st AERO SQUADRON FLIES SUPPORT IN MEXICO
The U.S. 1st Aero Squadron is flying support for American troops sent into Mexico by President Wilson to capture dead or alive the revolutionary Pancho Villa.
Villa has made raids across the border into the U.S. resulting in the deaths of 17 Americans.
This is the 1st military operation to use mechanical vehicles.
March 19, 2003
"OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM" BEGINS
President George W. Bush has announced today that the war to eliminate Saddam Hussein's threat to peace has begun.
Mr. Bush says that Iraq will be the next target in the battle against terrorism.
The President warned that "helping Iraqis achieve a .... free country will require our sustained commitment".*
*In 4 years of war, US casualties will reach over 3000 dead & 23,000 wounded.
