1960s Social Change & Counter Culture

1960sSocial Change & Counter Culture

Social Change • Significant improvements in the lives of • Minorities • Hispanics • African-Americans • Gays • Women • Asians • Native Americans

Mexican-Americans • LULAC – League of United Latin American Citizens • Promoted education fought for desegregation • Set up English language classes in public schools • La Raza Unida- Helped promote Hispanic candidates in local elections

United Farm Workers • Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Organized Farm Workers to protest for • Better working conditions • Higher pay • Social reforms • Used non-violent protest & boycotts

African-Americans • The Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King • Already covered in DETAIL……

Women’s Liberation • Feminism • was the belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men • Betty Friedan’s • Feminine Mystique • National Organization for Women (NOW) • fought against gender bias in hiring and in the workplace and pushed for child-care facilities

Gay Rights • SIR -The Society for Individual Rights was founded in Greenwich Village/SF. • Castro District “The Castro” San Francisco – predominantly Gay neighborhood that organized for gay rights. • Stone Wall Riots NYC- a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against police and government sponsored persecution. Gay Liberation Front Organized Gay pride marches

Asian-Americans • Backlash and racism from the Vietnam War • Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA) was founded at Berkley which unified Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino activists • Protested the Vietnam War and racism directed at Asians

Native Americans • Native Americans suffered the highest unemployment rates, alcoholism, infant mortality rates and suicides • In 1961 reps from 61 tribes drafted the Declaration of Indian Purpose • In 1968 LBJ established the National Council on Indian Opportunity • In 1968 the AIM (American Indian Movement) was formed to mobilize public opinion in their favor, respect of their culture

Counter Culture • movement made up of mostly white, middle-class college young people who were disillusioned with the war and injustices of society • They turned their backs on traditional American and founded a society based on peace and love.

Counter Culture • Materialism, Technology, and War were hollow • Harvard Psychology and counterculture philosopher Dr. Timothy Leary urged the youth to “Tune on, Turn in, Drop Out!” • Many left home, work, and school to create an ideal community of peace love and harmony

Hippie Culture • The Age of Aquarius • Rock ’n’ Roll Music • Sexual Revolution (Free Love) • Marijuana and LSD ( Illegal Drugs) • Eastern Religions (Zen Buddhism) • Ragged Jeans, Tie-dye shirts, military garments, love beads and muslin shirts • Long hair and beards • Many joined communes • Haight-Asbury District of SF

Helter Skelter • Charles Manson led a hippie commune “the Manson family” • First through love & understanding • Then through LSD & torture. • Do not think, only listen • Committed a series of murders “Helter Skelter”. • Did not kill anyone but went to jail through the joint responsibility rule. Actress Sharon Tate & her unborn baby murdered by the Manson family

Woodstock • Set up for 50,000 • 500,000 showed up • It showcased numerous bands that were or became icons in the music industry • It was a mental and spiritual escape from the chaotic decade of the 1960s • It signified a new generation taking control.

The Conservative Response • Nixon, Agnew and J Edgar Hoover • expressed anger and concern over the counterculture • threat to traditional values • Many saw the values as • immoral, • un-American, • Immature • irresponsible • Conservatives presented their own solutions to crime and lawlessness

1960s Social Change & Counter Culture