Between 1950 and 1970, suburbanization: question 13 options: eased racial tensions in american cities. encouraged a revitalization of american cities. hardened racial divisions in american life. encouraged puerto rican immigration. was the theme of the broadway musical west side story.

Hardened racial divisions in American life.

Suburbs became a way of segregating American life further, as suburban communities became predominantly white enclaves away from the cities. Practices of prejudice by suburban planners and banks (authorizing home loans) accounted for some of this. There was also "white flight" from the cities to suburban neighborhoods that they thought of as safer than life in the city.