The following questions refer to the excerpt below.
"[But] somewhere between 40,000,000 and 50,000,000 citizens of [the United States]… [are] poor… It is a blow to reform and the political hopes of the poor that the middle class no longer understands that poverty exists… What shall we tell the American poor?...Shall we say to them that they are better off than the Indian poor? That is one answer,but it is heartless…The means are at hand to fulfill the age-old dream: poverty can now be abolished."
Michael Harrington,The Other America,1962
-Which of the following stands in most direct contrast to the message of this passage?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DThe passage from Michael Harrington's "The Other America" highlights the issue of poverty in the United States and the lack of awareness or concern among the middle class about this issue. The correct answers, A and D, stand in contrast to this message for the following reasons:A) Perceptions of America's economic well-being following World War II - This period was characterized by a sense of prosperity and growth in the American economy, which contrasts with Harrington's emphasis on the significant number of Americans living in poverty.D) Images advanced by the popular media - The popular media often portrayed an image of affluence and prosperity in America, which contrasts with the reality of poverty described by Harrington. This portrayal contributed to the middle class's lack of awareness or understanding of the poverty issue.

The Following Questions Refer to the Excerpt Below