The late 1950s and early 1960s marked a tumultuous period for New York City, characterized by urban decline and a surge in gang activity. Despite the city’s postwar economic boom, certain neighborhoods experienced stark poverty. The decay of once-thriving industrial areas, coupled with the flight of middle-class residents to the suburbs, left certain areas of the city in a state of neglect. Deindustrialization also led to widespread job losses for working-class people, resulting in an economic downturn. At the same time, the city’s infrastructure suffered, as aging buildings, lack of maintenance funds, and a struggling public transportation system contributed to an overall sense of decay. The loss of major sports franchises such as the Dodgers and the Giants, which both left for California in 1957, is another telling signal of the city’s decline during this time. The events of The Cross and the Switchblade take place at this time, and Wilkerson depicts New York City as a dangerous and difficult backdrop for his missionary work.

The decline in economic opportunities and the deterioration of social structures in the late 1950s and early 1960s contributed to the proliferation of criminal activity at this time. The rise of gangs during this era was a manifestation of the social and economic challenges plaguing these marginalized neighborhoods.