While most of the counterculture movement did not identify as communist, some praised the writings of Karl Marx and C. Wright Mills. Those who had opted-out of the political sphere found themselves living in one of the 2,000 communes that manifested in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They rejected both the capitalist society and suburban lifestyle that their parents had preferred. Communal living included shared duties of all community members, who also held their own elections and made their own laws. While communal living died down over time due to exhausted funds, this period of history would be known as the “Third Great Awakening” by scholars (“Flower Power”). The war in Vietnam was one of the most common targets of the counterculture …show more content…
Berkley, Jack Weinberg, cautioned his fellow classmates about conforming to their parent’s way of thinking in the iconic 1964 quote: “Don’t Trust Anyone Over Thirty!” (Kosc). This state of mind carried on into many of Berkeley's many protests and riots. One of the school’s most widespread controversy was the “People’s Park”. Students preferred to turn a vacant campus lot into a park for everyone of all races, genders, and religions to enjoy on campus, and when the land was to made to be a parking garage, 85% of the student body fought to keep the park in a week-long battle. The “People’s Park”, though only a vacant strip of land, was a symbol of the struggles of oppression and the hopes of liberation and the children of the counterculture movement vowed to keep it intact …show more content…
From the suffragettes to the campaigners of the ‘60s, women were able to gain the rights to vote, equality under the law, as well as increased educational opportunities. However, this does not mean that all women gained these rights automatically; this change took perseverance and the better part of a century, especially for African American women, who were not seen as equals until over forty years after the 19th Amendment was ratified. It is also important to recognize that while the counterculture movement may not have had many legal footholds, it’s standing effects on modern American life continue to shine through. The counterculture movement’s goals envisioned a peaceful America free of prejudice and injustice, much like its sister movement. The nonconformists of counterculture were the biggest threat to the conservatives of anti-communist America, yet also was the salvation of the equal rights movements to
There was rock, folk music, and many more. But, in the late sixties Rock n Roll, commonly reckoned as the golden age of rock and roll when it attained a maturity unimaginable for the delinquent rebellion of the fifties, there are numerous references to the Vietnam War. The criticism of the war is submerged in or displaced by the politics of sexuality, lifestyle, and drugs. Rock music of that time period celebrated anti-materialism, spiritual awakening and social disengagement (James pg 133). Like the social movement it made possible, hippie music was ideologically and economically assimilable.
According to the Michael Kolkind in the essay History 489 at Berkeley the conflict over people’s park took place. According to the author it was a small space took by the local activist from the university of Berkley which failed to improve it after “demolish some houses”(5). According to the author they created a space that would bring more people to join their causes. The author describes this action the “beginning of the end of the student movement”. For the extremist activists it was a military battle against the citizen that they were supposed to defend.
During the Wes Moore event he said many valuable things that can be applied to all different aspects of life. His speech connects to the theme of “Just Communities” in two important ways. One way is how the people of Baltimore care deeply for what their environment is like. After the riots and fights he says how no one shows the people who came out to clean up the aftermath. This has been a common part of “just communities” that our class has studied.
Nancy A. Hewitt said in “From Seneca Falls to Suffrage? Reimagining a ‘Master’ Narrative of U.S. Women’s History” that, “In recent years, historical studies have revealed the multifaceted movements that constituted woman 's rights campaigns in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Yet one narrative continues to dominate understandings of the period” (15). This is a perfect example of an alternative histories, which is when important events are so underreported that we are left with one side of history, that doesn’t allow most to know the full history of the women’s rights
Prior to the Tet Offensive the American public believed that the Vietnam War would be coming to an end; however, the public was wrong. The Tet Offensive solidified that the Vietnam War was going to be a long war and that the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were determined to win. This led to the collapse of public support. By this time the Counter Culture movement in America was in full swing and many of the members were college students. Prior to the Tet Offensive the Counter Culture movement focused its time and strength on anti-establishment, freedom of speech, and race protest; however, after the Tet Offensive the Counter Culture movement shifted its efforts towards the anti-war movement.
During the 1950’s and 60’s, protests were occurring all throughout the United States. Ordinary citizens and civil rights leaders alike joined each other to voice their opposition and frustrations with the everyday injustices and discrimination that they were faced with. Although there are many figures associated with the successes that came from the time period, grassroot activism immensely propelled the movements because without them, the marches and demonstrations would not have been possible. Student activism especially was essential to many of the movements because of their connections to other adolescents and the fact that they were the upcoming generation made their voice interesting to the media. The largest and most covered movement,
In the 1960s and early 1970s, the United States was in constant conflict. Despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which technically prohibited racial discrimination in public places, it took multiple years of court cases to fully implement the act. Many police departments in the South were also politically motivated and racist towards black Americans, making life in the South difficult and dangerous for them, despite the protections of the Civil Rights Act. Even in the North, racism and discrimination made everyday life difficult for black people. In 1968, Martin Luther King was murdered, leading to riots all across the country as millions of infuriated Americans took to the streets to protest the injustices seen all around them.
The 1960’s Hippie counterculture movement involved a different variety of social beliefs and concerns. The Hippies’ central belief was that life was about being carefree, and not about what others people thought about them. Their “if it feels good, do it” perspective included little planning nor concern for the effects of their actions. Hippies rejected established institutions. describe them as “The Establishment”, “The Man”, and “Big Brother” Hippies believed the superior mainstream culture was corrupt and flawed and sought to replace it with a Utopian Society.
American counterculture was a reaction against United States government which oppressed domestic minorities and committed atrocities abroad. The emergence of a counterculture coincided with the dissatisfaction of many Americans with the actions of their government. Angry with capitalism, racism, and war, young people especially defied the American power structure, instead pushing for greater personal freedom, which included drug use, sexual freedom, freedom of speech, and peace. American counterculture was on display in Woodstock, the 1970 documentary film released a year after the festival. The film shows young adults flocking to a music concert in Bethel, New York, where they hear music performed by artists and groups including Richie Havens,
We hear about the wonderful activists that made a change for the future of women and equal rights. Women’s rights in particular called for much disobedience and rebellion to obtain. From voting rights to equal pay, women have a lot to fight for. This “fight” calls for rebellion to make a change. Women’s rights activists such as
Protests over the unfair treatment of different races, especially African Americans, and the rights of women were hallmarks of this era (Rosmanitz, n.d.) The election of John F. Kennedy spurred the creation of the War on Poverty, and Great Society programs of federal assistance to the poor (Tindall & Shi, n.d.). Like the 1920s, Americans enjoyed high levels of prosperity during the 1960s. This prosperity helped create a robust middle-class in which more families enjoyed the modern conveniences we take for granted today (Active USA Center , n.d.). However, this ideal lifestle could take a toll, especially on women who were required to be everything to everyone, often times leading to intense dissatisfaction (Active USA Center , n.d.).
Since 1634 this park has been used to benefit the “common” community. Used as a pasture for livestock until 1830, the Common allowed local animals a grazing land. This was also a place for celebration. Here, people set off fireworks and had bonfires after the repeal of the Stamp Act and to mark the end of the Revolutionary War. Later in its time, anti-Vietnam war and civil rights rallies were held (including the attendance of MLK).
The Counterculture Movement of the 1960s urged a nation filled with millions of youthful baby-boomers, that were eager to find their own voices, to retaliate against cultural assimilation put in place by previous generations. As Lisa Law stated, “It was an attempt to rebel against the values our parents had pushed on us. We were trying to get back to touching and relating and living” ( “A Visual Journey..”) This time period encapsulated protests against several issues such as the conflict in Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Suffrage, Nonconformity, and the Sexual Revolution; this contributed to the unity of several causes who could relate to one other through their passion for change. One of the most interesting aspects, in my opinion,
However, it were these movements in the 19th century that first started to point out the hypocrisy of American ideals, and started to garner support for the advocacy of democratic ideals. Eventually, these movements would lead to more intense scrutiny of the American Constitution, and greater equality for all classes of citizens, as seen in the Civil Rights movement of the late 20th century, and America’s society today. Now a days, Americans enjoy a blessed amount of equality and opportunity, due to the societal reform movements started in the 19th century. Unfortunately, evil persists, and some discrimination is still inevitable even to today, as demonstrated in the rise of Neo-nazism and rape culture. Regardless, one must not lose hope, for within each man lies a flicker of
The counterculture that developed in the United States during the 60s, was a movement in which the attitudes and ideals shifted from the social norm of accepted traditional lifestyles and beliefs. The youths of this period rejected the cultural