Creative destruction is the hallmark of capitalism, as the economist Joseph Schumpeter argued.  But the destructive side is often overlooked.  Francesca Ammon discusses the enormous wave of demolition that accompanied the postwar boom — transforming the rural, urban and suburban landscape, and displacing the residents of scores of communities around the United States. Resources: Francesca … Continued


In the popular imagination, U.S. anarchism ended with the deportation of Emma Goldman in 1919, only to re-emerge recently with the masked Black Bloc.  But according to scholar Andrew Cornell, anarchism survived and thrived in mid-century America, deeply influencing bohemia, Civil Rights, and the New Left.   Resources: Andrew Cornell, Unruly Equality: U.S. Anarchism in … Continued


Against the Grain

The American Right

The right is in great disarray these days, propelled by the unexpected popularity of Donald Trump. But its successes have been remarkable. As Doug Henwood points out, at mid-century the right was marginal in American politics — wildeyed Birchers wandering in the wilderness while the business class had firmly accommodated itself to the New Deal. … Continued


Iconoclastic comedian, talented actor, and gifted writer Richard Pryor pushed the boundaries of popular culture at a pivotal moment, laying bare uncomfortable truths about race and injustice in America. Scott Saul reflects on the comedian’s formative years in a segregated country and the fluorescence of his art during a time of urban unrest, Black Power, … Continued