An Era of Social Change

1. An Era of Social Change 1960s & 1970s America

2. An Era of Social Change • The 1960s & 1970s were a time of significant change for US • Boomers born into victorious, prosperous US that defended freedom & fought oppression • Why wouldn’t these morals expand to race & gender equality? • Latino Americans immigrated from Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands, Mexico & Central and South America

3. An Era of Social Change • Population began with Mexicans when land ceded after 1848 war (SW US) • Population continued to increase during Mexican Revolution during early 20th century • Further increased when US needed cheap, migrant, bracero labor during WWI & WWII • Puerto Ricans migrated after 1898 Spanish American War (NYC) • Cubans immigrated after Castro declared communism (Miami & NJ)

5. An Era of Social Change • Central & South Americans immigrated following civil wars (started by US’ CIA) involving spread of communism • Regardless from where Latinos haled, many suffered from de jure & de facto segregation • Most lived in impoverished, segregated barrios overlooked by most Americans • Schools lacked, unemployment typically 50% higher because employment based on agricultural seasons • Many Americans sought to deport “wetbacks” or prejudice them as mindless, illiterate laborers

7. An Era of Social Change • Latinos began fighting for change during 1960s due to progress of Black Americans • Cesar Chavez, product of migrant, agricultural laborers • Believed Mexicans had to unionize if group wished to access the American dream & succeed in US • 1966, formed United Farmer Workers Organization Committee combining Mexican & Filipino agricultural unions • Launched boycott against CA grape growers until UFWOC was recognized

9. An Era of Social Change • Chavez & UFWOC ultimately recognized by CA fruit & vegetable companies by 1970 • Continued Latino immigration during 1980s undermined progress of Chavez • However, publicity of Chavez & Latino movement increased cultural identity & social equality • Brown Power & Brown Berets in NYC, NJ & CA pushed Congress to pass Bilingual Education Act • Money set aside for bilingual education & cultural programs

10. An Era of Social Change • Latinos also sought political recognition as well • La Raza Unida & Mexican American Political Association • Independent political movement helping Latinos get elected throughout high Latino cities, congressional districts & states • Alianza Federal de Mercedes • Sought to reclaim land loss by Mexicans during 1800s • Using force for publicity, seized county courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, NM

12. An Era of Social Change • American Indians, arguably most oppressed group in US history • Germ warfare decimated Native population from 7 million in 1600, to 200,000 in 1900 • Natives treated horribly during westward expansion • Early 1800s, Indian Removal relocated Natives to reservations • Late 1800s, assimilation attempted to strip Natives of their culture • Early 1900s, Natives given “citizenship”, but Indian New Deal/Reorganization did very little due to corruption

14. An Era of Social Change • Moving had devastating affect • Natives disadvantaged for centuries, now forced into urban centers without skills or tools necessary to succeed • Many experienced increase poverty or hardship • De facto & de jure segregation coupled with success of Black Americans pushed Natives into action • 1961, Red Power begins push for equality in society • Declaration of Indian Purpose, Natives seek to control own way of life within US society

15. An Era of Social Change • American Indian Movement • Protected Natives against brutality, advanced Natives’ issues • Returned lands lost & US follow treaties • 1969, Alcatraz occupied for potential Native center and/or university • 1972, Trail of Broken Treaties, occupation of Bureau of Indian Affairs • 1973, Wounded Knee, SD, Sioux took city hostage to commemorate 1890 massacre

17. An Era of Social Change • American women always dealt with sexism • Outside of American Indians, last group to get suffrage—by five years • Following WWII, many American women couldn’t understand their dissatisfaction with marriage, family, and home • Betty Friedan, documented dissatisfaction in The Feminine Mystique • Women wanted more than being barefoot & in the kitchen

19. An Era of Social Change • Women’s movement has been around since 19th century • Rekindled during 1960s due to feminism and political activism of the decade • Women wanted economic, political, and social equality with men • Although suffraged, women still discriminated against • Paid less, excluded from sports, limited in civil rights movement(s)

20. An Era of Social Change • Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or gender • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission • Enforcement agency of civil rights act, but women wanted immediate progress • National Organization for Women • Helped founded by Friedan, pushed EEOC to be vigorous in enforcing prohibition of gender discrimination

21. An Era of Social Change • Similar to every other “minority” group, women’s movement had a radical faction • 1968, Miss America pageant demonstrated on by NY Radical Women • Burned bras, girdles, wigs etc. in “freedom trash cans”… • Gloria Steinem, organized National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 • Pushed women to pursue political office

23. An Era of Social Change • 1970s marked beginning of significant gains for American women • Higher Education Act • Contained historic, Title IX, which prohibited discrimination based on sex in any program receiving federal funding • Girls can play sports • Roe v. Wade 1973 • Women have right to abortion during first trimester

24. An Era of Social Change • Although women experienced significant gains during 1970s, many still wanted Equal Rights Amendment • Specifically declared men & women would enjoy the same rights • Similar to 15th specifically declaring rights not being infringed due race, color or former state of servitude • Never gets requisite 38-state ratification

25. An Era of Social Change • Phyllis Schlafly & New Right • Backlash to social change doesn’t exclude women • Conservatives, led by Evangelical churches, wanted to stop change • Many believed new gender roles threatened country’s survival • If women enjoyed same rights as men, they wouldn’t want to be mothers

27. Counterculture • Counterculture movement began during the 1960s, followed path of 1950’s Beatniks • Between 1960-1970, 15 to 24 year olds increased from 24 million to 35.5 million • These boomers grew up middle class, suburban, and had access to what they wanted • They felt empowered by size of their generation, felt they could do anything • When not immediately satisfied by society, a small percentage “dropped out” of mainstream America

29. Counterculture • Counterculture • White, middle-class college co-eds • Grew disillusioned with inability to solve problems of their time • Poverty, prejudice, war • Wealth & materialism, things their parents went without during the Depression, didn’t satisfy them • Idealistically they wanted more than what middle class had to offer

31. Counterculture • Several components allowed counterculture to last a decade • 7.9 million boomers at college, away from control of parents • Size of generation provided reassurance of their actions • Divisiveness & unrest of time period overwhelmed societal structures • Epicenter of hippie culture, Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco • Ironic, Americans seeking fresh start always go west

32. Counterculture • The 1,000s, or maybe even 10,000s that called themselves “hippies”, rejected mainstream society • Cohabitated in communes • Forewent possessing material wealth • Engaged in uncommitted, free sex with one another in attempt at finding happiness & love • “Expanded their minds” with drugs, attempting to find themselves and what they couldn’t find being middle class

33. Counterculture • Lysergic acid diethylamide, was promoted by Dr. Timothy Leary, Harvard psychology professor • Encouraged co-eds to “Tune in (to themselves), turn on (their minds), and drop out (of an unloving world)” • Marijuana for those less adventurous • Many practiced Zen Buddhism, to “enlighten” themselves through reflection—not scripture

35. Counterculture • Counterculture’s music, the Age of Aquarius • Black Americans twisted rock ‘n’ roll into “Motown Sound” • Counterculture twisted rock ‘n’ roll into “Acid Rock” • Began w/ “British Invasion”, February 1964 when 74 million Americans tune into the Ed Sullivan Show • Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan, Barry McGuire, Grateful Dead & other notables

37. Counterculture • Counterculture’s music culminated in upstate New York at Woodstock Music and Art Festival in August 1969 • 400,000 in attendance, 100,000s more couldn’t get in due to traffic backups • Three days of peace, love, and higher cultural cause • Counterculture’s art illustrated by Andy Warhol’s bright, psychedelic prints • Counterculture’s art quickly lost popularity when easily copied by others

40. Counterculture • Counterculture’s popularity began to wane by end of ‘60s • Drug abuse killed Jimi Hendrix (sleeping pills) and Janis Joplin (heroin) in 1970 • Hippies disillusioned with mainstream culture grew frustrated in communes • Food, rent, clothes, etc. costs more than ideals of peace & harmony • Raising (illegitimate) “Love Children” costs more than the free love it took to procreate them • Divorce & illegitimate birth rates begin to rise during ‘60s, peak in 1990s

41. Counterculture • Counterculture ended with Tate-Labianca Murders in 1969 and following trial between 1970-71 • Charles Manson head of a commune in Los Angeles called the Manson Family • S. Atkins, P. Krenwinkle, L. Kasabian, & C. “Tex” Watson murder Beverly Hills residents to start racial war in US, Helter Skelter • Actress Sharon Tate and the Labiancas brutally murdered & butchered • Murders illustrate dangers of communes & weakness/susceptibility of hippies to powerful, corrupt leaders

44. Counterculture • Vietnam Era, along with social unrest of civil rights movements & counterculture, changed US • Americans became titillated by violence & sex, of which pop culture is consumed • Democrats that led country out of Depression & WWII, now blamed for country’s problems • FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover warned that US is endangered by revolutionary terrorism • Republicans promised to restore law & order, resulting in Nixon being elected president in 1968 & 1972