The Other America
Encyclopedia
Michael Harrington
’s book The Other America (ISBN 0-684-82678-X) was an influential study of poverty in the United States
, published in 1962 by Macmillan. A widely read review, "Our Invisible Poor," in The New Yorker
by Dwight Macdonald
brought the book to the attention of President John F. Kennedy
.
The Other America argued that up to 25% of the nation was living in poverty. Many believe that this book is responsible for President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty
." The Penguin Books
paperback editions have sold over one million copies. The Boston Globe editorialized that Medicaid
, Medicare
, food stamps and expanded social security benefits were traceable to Harrington’s ideas. Harrington became the pre-eminent spokesman for democratic socialism
in America.
Michael Harrington and Today's Other America: Corporate Power and Inequality captured the essence of Harrington’s ideas through the use of archival footage and interviews with his colleagues and opponents. Over thirty interviews were filmed, including:
The documentary included a brief history of socialism in America, and raised questions concerning
Michael Harrington
Edward Michael "Mike" Harrington was an American democratic socialist, writer, political activist, professor of political science, radio commentator and founder of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Personal life:...
’s book The Other America (ISBN 0-684-82678-X) was an influential study of poverty in the United States
Poverty in the United States
Poverty is defined as the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday September 13th, 2011, the nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010, up from 14.3% in 2009 and to its highest level...
, published in 1962 by Macmillan. A widely read review, "Our Invisible Poor," in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
by Dwight Macdonald
Dwight Macdonald
Dwight Macdonald was an American writer, editor, film critic, social critic, philosopher, and political radical.-Early life and career:...
brought the book to the attention of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
The Other America argued that up to 25% of the nation was living in poverty. Many believe that this book is responsible for President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty
War on Poverty
The War on Poverty is the unofficial name for legislation first introduced by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson during his State of the Union address on January 8, 1964. This legislation was proposed by Johnson in response to a national poverty rate of around nineteen percent...
." The Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
paperback editions have sold over one million copies. The Boston Globe editorialized that Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
, Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
, food stamps and expanded social security benefits were traceable to Harrington’s ideas. Harrington became the pre-eminent spokesman for democratic socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
in America.
Documentary film
The 1999 documentary filmDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Michael Harrington and Today's Other America: Corporate Power and Inequality captured the essence of Harrington’s ideas through the use of archival footage and interviews with his colleagues and opponents. Over thirty interviews were filmed, including:
- John Kenneth GalbraithJohn Kenneth GalbraithJohn Kenneth "Ken" Galbraith , OC was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism...
- Gloria SteinemGloria SteinemGloria Marie Steinem is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist who became nationally recognized as a leader of, and media spokeswoman for, the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s...
- William F. Buckley
- Charles MurrayCharles MurrayCharles Murray is the name of:*Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore *Charles Augustus Murray , British author diplomat*Charles Murray, 7th Earl of Dunmore *Charles James Murray , British politician...
- as well as ordinary people who struggle to make a living, or are dependent on social services.
The documentary included a brief history of socialism in America, and raised questions concerning
- the merits and relevance of unionsTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
today - the problems of migrant workers, farmerFarmerA farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s, and big businessBig BusinessBig business is a term used to describe large corporations, in either an individual or collective sense. The term first came into use in a symbolic sense subsequent to the American Civil War, particularly after 1880, in connection with the combination movement that began in American business at... - and the AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
health care systemHealth care systemA health care system is the organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care services to meet the health needs of target populations....
.
See also
- Two AmericasTwo AmericasTwo Americas is a catch phrase referring to social stratification in American society, made famous in a speech by former US Senator and former presidential candidate John Edwards, originally referring to haves and have-nots...
- Socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poorSocialism for the rich and capitalism for the poorSocialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor is a classical political-economic argument, stating that in the advanced capitalist societies state policies assure that more resources flow to the rich than to the poor, for example in form of transfer payments...