Jacobs wrote The Death and Life of Great American Cities in 1962, explaining the design of sidewalks, the lengths of city blocks, park systems, etc., and made the case that these city elements could be redesigned to restructure systems of American life. This included her examinations of the parts of Black neighborhoods that promoted happiness and a tighter sense of community, such as: mixed-use small businesses and housing, shorter blocks and larger sidewalks to gathering and easy transportation by foot, and most importantly, the social importance of keeping your eyes out onto the street and knowing and supporting your neighbors.