In the early 1960s, Gunnar and Alva Myrdal returned to Stockholm. Gunnar Myrdal was active internationally, particularly in the US, where he was a popular speaker and wrote extensively on economic and international issues. The civil rights movement in the US gained momentum in the 1950s and 1960s and led to significant legislative changes, supported by the Supreme Court’s reinforcement of constitutional amendments ensuring equal rights. Gunnar Myrdal addressed structural unemployment and the emergence of a new underclass in the US. His term “underclass” gained traction in sociological discourse. Myrdal’s emphasis on public measures for education and retraining highlighted his commitment to eradicating poverty and promoting equality. Gunnar Myrdal participated in a heated public panel debate in New York with the black author James Baldwin. Gunnar’s relationship with his son Jan Myrdal was strained, particularly over differing views on the Vietnam War, and led to a rift between them.