New York: A Documentary Film

S01E07 The City and the World (1945–2000)

Episode Seven delves into the dynamic social, economic, and physical transformations that unfolded in the city after the war. It highlights the significant waves of African-American migration and Puerto Rican immigration during the '40s, '50s, and '60s, alongside the onset of white flight and the rise of suburban living. The episode also addresses the extensive changes brought about by highways and urban renewal, largely orchestrated by Robert Moses. The narrative builds to a peak with the demolition of Penn Station, the controversy surrounding the Lower Manhattan Expressway, and the social and financial struggles of the '60s and '70s, culminating in New York's remarkable resurgence over the past twenty-five years.