Making the Second Ghetto Book Summary

In 'Making the Second Ghetto,' Arnold R. Hirsch delves into the complex social and political landscape of Chicago's neighborhoods from the 1940s to the 1960s. He uncovers how systemic racism and urban policy decisions transformed thriving communities into segregated enclaves. Through vivid storytelling, Hirsch illustrates the struggles and resilience of the city’s African American residents amidst economic and political upheaval. This gripping narrative challenges readers to reflect on the lasting impacts of housing policies in America. Will Hirsch’s insights shed light on today's unresolved issues of race and inequality in urban America?

By Arnold R. Hirsch

Published: 1998

"The creation of the second ghetto was not merely a physical transformation of space, but a profound shift in the very fabric of community, identity, and opportunity."

Book Review of Making the Second Ghetto

Historian Arnold Hirsch shows that Chicago's post-depression urban renewal effort was forged in racial struggles waged on the city's South Side. His chronicle of the strategies used by ethnic, political, and business interests in reaction to the great migration of southern blacks in the 1940s describes how the violent reaction of an emergent "white" population combined with public policy to segregate the city. 20 photos.

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The creation of the second ghetto was not merely a physical transformation of space, but a profound shift in the very fabric of community, identity, and opportunity.

Making the Second Ghetto

By Arnold R. Hirsch