Poverty and discrimination plagued many Americans in the postwar era. Critics argued that while material wealth increased, quality of life had not due to an emphasis on conformity. Beatniks rejected this conformity. Many lived in inner city poverty or rural areas, while African Americans and other minorities faced discrimination. Urban renewal projects displaced the poor and failed to solve economic issues, while public housing led to greater concentration of poverty. Government termination policies for Native Americans and exploitation of migrant workers also exacerbated problems in this era.