1950s, the 'dream decade' (PBS)

[speak easy]

Last edited Thu Aug 1, 2024, 04:09 AM - Edit history (2)

If you were a straight white male with a housewife in the kitchen, life was 'swell'. If you were black and living in the Solid South, afraid of nuclear war or Joe McCarthy ... We are not going back.

[speak easy]

1. when I read about his widowed bride

[PeaceWave]

2. Few of us lived in the 1950s. Who are we to criticize?

In 1954, my Mom immigrated to the U.S. (San Francisco) from Central America. She describes the U.S. during that time in magical terms. Cities were clean and safe. People dressed far better than they do now. She'll regale you with stories about women in beautiful dresses, white gloves and hats - contrasting that sharply with the women she typically sees in supermarket these days "stuffed into yoga pants like sausages." Housing and food was relatively cheap. This is how she describes life at the time. In particular, she describes the skills that both men and women possessed. Whether it was fixing the family car or sewing clothes, you just did it - because there wasn't anywhere near the convenience of just calling someone to do it for you that exists today. You need a hand? Look to the end of your arm. That was the collective mentality. Keep in mind that folks during that time had all recently emerged from a horrendous war that was preceded by a horrendous economic crisis. In their own way, they were all fairly bad ass people. "Dream decade?" A little too sweeping a statement. The "greatest generation?" Yes, absolutely.

[speak easy]

4. Who are we to criticize black America having no votes in the South?

(Whatever year you were born)

[marybourg]

3. Thank you for posting. I was a teen in the 50's and enjoyed seeing this

television-centric view of those years.