Who wrote The Other America?

• A. James Baldwin
• B. Richard Wright
• C. Langston Hughes
• D. Michael Harrington

Answer: (D)

This question tests your knowledge of a pivotal 1960s analysis that exposed how widespread poverty was in the United States. The author who wrote The Other America is Michael Harrington. Published in 1962, the book revealed that poverty extended far beyond rural areas and poor tenants to include urban slums and a large portion of the population, making a powerful case that poverty was a systemic issue affecting many Americans. Harrington’s work helped galvanize public concern and influence policy discussions that contributed to the Johnson administration’s anti-poverty programs.

The other writers listed are renowned for addressing race, civil rights, and African American life, not this particular poverty-focused study. So the author behind The Other America is Michael Harrington.