Final answer:
Levittown was a popular post-WWII suburb offering affordable homes to veterans through the GI Bill. While it embodied the American dream, its homogeneity and racial exclusivity prompted some, including African American families facing discrimination, to seek more diverse and accommodating communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Life in Levittown and the Decision to Move
Initially, many veterans moved to Levittown, a suburb created by William Levitt, to find affordable housing post-WWII, thanks to assistance from the GI Bill. Levittown represented the quintessential American suburb, with its mass-produced, affordable homes costing approximately $8,000. The houses were built using an assembly-line approach, a testament to Levitt's ingenuity in applying mass production techniques to home construction.
Living in Levittown was the embodiment of the American dream for many, providing a sense of community, safety, and convenience away from the crowded city life. However, it had its drawbacks. The homes were strikingly similar, sometimes leading residents to enter the wrong house inadvertently. Moreover, there were restrictive covenants that prevented diversity within the community, as the homes were initially only sold to White families, which led to a lack of cultural diversity.
Despite the seeming perfection, some residents chose to leave Levittown due to a desire for more individuality, the drive for a more inclusive community not limited by racial covenants, or simply seeking change. The documented experiences of an African American family in the 1957 documentary Crisis in Levittown illustrate the underlying racial tensions of the time. Those who decided to move out often sought neighborhoods that offered greater diversity, more distinct housing options, and communities that better reflected their values and aspirations.