Was life in America really better in the 1950s?

[Chubroach]

Recently I have talked to alot of older people who complain about today's world Most of them say that America was best in the 1950s. They say that the 1950s was the perfect era because:

Crime was almost non existent

Morals were at their peak. (There would be no Janet Jackson Superbowl)

People were friendly to each other and neighborhoods and families were connected.

The economy was strong and people could afford to well on one income. Women could afford to stay home and be a mother.

We did not have nearly the problem we have today with drugs, teenage sucide, teenage pregancy, guns in the schools and even the races got along better.

No war on terror and the fear we have today.

Was the 1950s really as great a time in America as described?

 

[Robinrs]

Not for MY people...

 

[Tinkbell]

I wouldn't want to have lived back then.

 

[kasar]

People seem to remember the good things and forget all about the bad things. There are bad things that happen in each generation and the 50's are no exception.

There were plenty of teenage pregnancies and suicides - they were just hushed up and not talked about. Women had very few choices about education and careers and family. Society had very strict rules about what people did/saw/listened to - while that may have kept the Janet Jacksons off TV, what else did it keep off?

I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that race relations were better. Were'nt the 50's the times of lynchings, Rosa Parks, segregated schools, etc. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong on dates, but I believe it was the 50's.

There were plenty of fears about war. Here's a quote I found:

In the 1950's, the Soviet Union and the United States were both testing nuclear bombs, the arms race escalated, and a kind of panic took hold in the United States. School children crouched under their desks in drop drills, nervous suburbanites built fallout shelters in their gardens and bomb shelters appeared in city basements and subway stations.

That sounds pretty scary to me.

So, no. I think that the older folks you talked to are remembering a little rose-colored history. They may be confused and upset about today's history, but in 50 years we'll look back on these days with nostalgia too.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by Robinrs
Not for MY people...

Good answer Robin, 'better' is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[tiggersmom2]

You have got to be kidding!
How do you get that the races got along better?!
And let me get this right, if you don't stay at home with your kids, you are not a mother?!
I don't think I'll even bother responding to these ridiculous comments.

 

[Chubroach]

Many older black people have told me that things were better for them in the 1950s. They were separate from whites (like today) but since then then:

Half of black men in their twenties are either in prison, jail or probation.

Crime is incredible in the black community

Test scores for blacks continue to drop

Most births to black women are out of marriage.

Gangter Rap rules

I could go on and on

This was not the case in the 1950s!

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

and even the races got along better.

You're gonna have to tell me exactly which races you're talking about, because you obviously haven't been reading your history books for this country.

But somehow I doubt the OP will be back to this discussion.

 

[pixiemomma]

I don't think things were any better in the 1950's then they are now. Crime, teenage pregnancy ect . all existed then too. We have just become much more adept at keeping statistics and reporting unpleasant news.

True, the Janet Jackson Superbowl may not have happened in th 1950s. Only because we were that much more uptight about the human body then.

There may not have been a war on terror but my mother born in 1952, practiced hiding beneath her school desk in case of an attack by the Russians.

No single family incomes in the 50s for my grandparents households. All four of my grandparents worked. I am a stay at home mom though.

African-American's lacked basic civil rights. The right to vote, the right to use some public facilities. Laws forbiding such discrimination were not passed until 1964.

I'm glad to be alive now.

 

[ScarlettO]

You're right, Robin. I remember our city pool having two pools ...one for whites and one for blacks. Also all blacks were "expected" to go to the back of the city busses.

 

[CRB#33]

You know, I'm starting to think about using my ignore button again

 

[Carl]

Race relations were not as good, but other than that I'd have to say the 50s were over all more peaceful and easy going.

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by Chubroach
Many older black people have told me that things were better for them in the 1950s. They were separate from whites (like today) but since then then:

Half of black men in their twenties are either in prison, jail or probation.

Crime is incredible in the black community

Test scores for blacks continue to drop

Most births to black women are out of marriage.

Gangter Rap rules

I could go on and on

This was not the case in the 1950s!

You've got to be kidding about this .

 

[kasar]

Not to turn this into a debate, but peaceful doesn't always equate to better.

Peaceful may mean suppression of ideas and opinions, intimidation by those in power, or a blind allegience to what the code of conduct "should" be.

I, for one, like a society where people are able to express their opinions (whether you like them or not), where it's not only okay but expected to question, question, question authority. It does get rough sometimes but, to me, that's better than the alternative.

 

[KristaTX]

Okay, Chubroach - Who are you really?

 

[DawnCt]

I lived in Boston and in Maine in the 50's. (born in 1952). I remember being able to play out in the street. I had friends that were black and white and we all played together. I was a little kid but I don't recall any racial strife among the families that I played with. We said the pledge of alligiance and the Lord's prayer in school and no one panicked over it. We could trick or treat on Halloween. Many Mom's were home with their children although my mother always worked. We had street vendors who were always friendly. The ice man would give us chunks of ice in the summer. We would watch the Chinese laundry man iron and would visit with him. He didn't speak very much English but he was friendly and always smiled. In Maine, life was equally pleasant. There were no black families however. We walked to school, came home for lunch and knew everyone in town. I don't recall swearing to the degree that is prevalent now and I think in general, discourse was certainly more civil.

 

[Serena]

Originally posted by Chubroach
Recently I have talked to alot of older people who complain about today's world Most of them say that America was best in the 1950s. They say that the 1950s was the perfect era because:

Crime was almost non existent

Morals were at their peak. (There would be no Janet Jackson Superbowl)

People were friendly to each other and neighborhoods and families were connected.

The economy was strong and people could afford to well on one income. Women could afford to stay home and be a mother.

We did not have nearly the problem we have today with drugs, teenage sucide, teenage pregancy, guns in the schools and even the races got along better.

No war on terror and the fear we have today.

Was the 1950s really as great a time in America as described?

Those older people are forgetting half of the history they lived. Did you meet these older people in a nursing home?

 

[Chubroach]

Everyone is talking about all the choices we have today. We really are more limited today from what we can say due to POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. We are afraid to bring up anything because it is against what is the political thoughts of the day.

Here is what is better today than the 1950s:

Easy travel by jet. You can fly about anywhere in the world for $1000.00 RT.

Cable TV

The Internet

More job choices today in comfortable offices, (Most jobs were in manufacturing back then- hard dirty work)

Cell Phones

Technology and modern medicine

Though I still feel that in general the 1950s were a better time for most Americans.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

This is the only question I had....you'll have to explain this one to me further.

and even the races got along better.

 

[nuke]

I'm sure the victims of spousal and child abuse think that times are better now. They were told to shut up about it and not rock the boat back in the 50's. The wives were told it was part of "marriage". The children were told to be quiet. Yeah times were MUCH better then.

And I'm sure if you accounted for inflation that $1000 in the 50's would go a long way to buying a round trip ticket today.