I’ve heard that american suburbs took off in the 50s in part because of cold war fears of nuclear attack. (mostly white) middle class people with the means to move out tried to get away from bomb targets, and the government funded highways as a way to evacuate cities in an emergency and to encourage sprawl for “civil defense”
They also wanted to live as far away from black people as possible. I don’t think it would protect you much against the kind of saturation bombing they’re using on Gaza
I think so much of the cultural explosion of the 60s was a direct consequence of white flight, like I really wish they would give cities back to the people and just quarantine themselves in the suburbs again
As an urban theorist and historian how do you think this would be less difficult than bombing a suburb?
Suburbs are more spread out so obviously the chances of my house hit are getting lower.
Sure, I can’t go anywhere once they destroy the only road connecting us to civilisation, but at least my property might be safe
I’ve heard that american suburbs took off in the 50s in part because of cold war fears of nuclear attack. (mostly white) middle class people with the means to move out tried to get away from bomb targets, and the government funded highways as a way to evacuate cities in an emergency and to encourage sprawl for “civil defense”
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/713999949
How much of an effect did it have compared to regular old capital flight (aka white flight)? That seems like a much more compelling reason to me
They also wanted to live as far away from black people as possible. I don’t think it would protect you much against the kind of saturation bombing they’re using on Gaza
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/11/13/if-gaza-was-in-your-city-how-much-would-be-destroyed
I think so much of the cultural explosion of the 60s was a direct consequence of white flight, like I really wish they would give cities back to the people and just quarantine themselves in the suburbs again