1. The Counterculture
Chapter 23 Notes

2. Sometimes Students Do Have Good Points…
So I was reading through the comments you left for me yesterday, and some unnamed student made a really good point (it really was unnamed—I couldn’t figure out the handwriting)
They said that I had hinted at the Counterculture movement but had not really mentioned it directly
So let’s mention it directly…

3. Counterculture: A Definition…
So to get our definition of the counterculture, I went where all self-respecting educators go…Urban Dictionary (Your book has a definition too, but this is more fun—and actually I think this one is pretty accurate)
A Legitimate Definition: any group of people whose beliefs, values, styles, and attitudes differ from that of the prevailing culture. Counter-culture began with the hippie movement back in the late 60's and 70's. In today's society, counter-culture is most often seen in the alternative subcultures.

4. Counterculture: A Jaded Definition…
And then there are the people who have a different view of the counterculture…
A Jaded Definition: A misleading term coined by the music industry and MTV to trick gullible, angsty teenagers into a false sense of rebellion, either against "mainstream" music scenes, society, or at least their parents. Counter-cultures can range from obscure and "underground" (also another industry trick word) to being popular and mainstream. When a counter-culture becomes mainstream (such as grunge in the 90's and most recently, emo), it is still marketed as being against the mainstream although music acts of that genre might be flying off the charts. Of course this leads to the more elitist counter-culturists who follow a counter-culture just to impress their friends by following obscure, unpopular and/or cult-favorite music acts.
Common examples of counter-cultures (both mainstream and underground): Reggae, Punk (that includes you "hardcore" punk types. Don't give me any "but I'm a TRUE Punk because I hate Avril and pop-punk“), Ska, Emo, Raver music, Grunge, Nu Metal, Indie, Techno, Gangsta Rap, Any other offshoot of Punk or Metal in general. Let me be to the point here: You're not unique. You're not profound. You're not original. You're a sheep that follows a smaller herd. That's all. I'm not any better but at least I realise it instead of being arrogant to people about my music preferences.
Um…wow…somehow I don’t think that’s the definition in Webster’s…

5. Counterculture: A Tweet
While looking at my twitter timeline last night, I came across this and thought it fit today’s lecture, so I added it:
From (apparently I’m not concerned with legitimate sources today…)
8 May
1920s: I hate flappers
1960s: I hate hippies.
1980s: I hate yuppies.
Today: I hate hipsters.
2030s: I hate grimples
2070s: I hate jonkflons
Personally, I love jonkflons.
However, what is the greater point that “Dog” is trying to make?

6. Who is in the Counterculture?
That’s a good question, because there is some debate as to who is and isn’t a member of the counterculture.
The beatniks were the first members of the counterculture we talked about, but in the ‘60s you had many possibilities.
Without question, those that lived in communes like Haight-Ashbury were
Hippies in general were
Many, but not all, anti-war protestors were
Some might argue those fighting for civil rights, especially those helping guard the safety of African Americans were
Members of the Militant African American movement were
Latino and Native Americans seeking equality might have been
The Feminist movement was a part of the counterculture as well

7. The Other Minorities: The Latino Movement
During the 1960s, the Latino population grew from 3 million to 9 million (as of 2011, it was estimated at 52 million)
In 1962, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta established the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually merged to form the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC)
The goal was to unionize Latino farmers so they could collectively bargain
They insisted California’s large fruit and vegetable companies accept their union as the bargaining agent for the farm workers
This was a nonviolent organization
In 1965, California’s grape growers refused to recognize the union, so Chavez sent farm workers across the country to convince supermarkets and shoppers to boycott California grapes; Chavez also fasted for 3 weeks and lost 35 lbs.
In the long run, it worked: in 1970, Huerta negotiated a contract between the grape growers and the UFWOC with higher wages and better benefits

8. The Other Minorities: The Native American Movement
Historically, Native Americans have been the poorest of Americans and have suffered from the highest unemployment rate
They also suffer TB and alcoholism at higher rates than any other U.S. ethnicity
1954: President Eisenhower enacted a “termination” policy to deal with these problems but it didn’t respect Native American culture
They were relocated into mainstream U.S. culture—it didn’t work
Most remained very poor
1961: 61 Native American groups met in Chicago to draft the Declaration of Indian Purpose, stressing the determination of Native Americans to “choose our own way of life”, end termination, and create economic opportunities
1968: President Johnson established the National Council on Indian Opportunity to “ensure that programs reflect the needs and desires of the Indian people.”…but did it?

9. The Other Minorities: The Native American Movement
Dissatisfied with the slow pace of reform, the American Indian Movement (AIM) was launched
AIM originally was a self-defense group against police brutality but morphed into a militant group as years went on
Native Americans were looking for rights, the restoration of lands, and/or cultural respect
1972: AIM leader Russell Means (Business) organized the “Trail of Broken Treaties” march in Washington D.C. to protest the U.S. government
They wanted 110 million acres of land restored and pushed for the end of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which many believed was corrupt
They temporarily occupied the BIA building, destroyed records, and caused $2 million in property damage
1973: AIM led nearly 200 Sioux to Wounded Knee, S.D. and seized the town in protest against tribal leadership and federal policies
Hostages were taken
FBI negotiations happened
A shootout left 2 Native Americans dead and others wounded
The U.S. gov’t promised to reexamine Native American treaty rights

10. The Other Minorities: The Native American Movement
Native Americans did gain some reforms:
1970: the Taos of New Mexico regained their sacred Blue Lake and some surrounding land
1971: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act led to Alaskan natives regaining more than 40 million acres of land to native peoples and $962 million in cash
1972: Congress passed the Indian Education Act
1975: Congress passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
The last two acts gave tribes more control over their lives and kids’ education

11. Peace and Love
The hippie movement was made up of people determined to live in a peaceful, carefree environment
The hub of the movement was San Francisco; the heart of the hub was the Haight-Ashbury district.
It was less about challenging the system and more about turning their backs on the traditional system overall and trying to establish a new society based on peace and love
It kinda sounds like Jesus + LSD… (okay, maybe not)
The reason for the movement: this New Left felt that U.S. society—and its materialism, technology, and war—had grown hollow
Tens of thousands of youths left school, work, or home to create what they hoped would be a community of peace, love, and harmony
What was Hippie Culture? It was rock ‘n roll, outrageous clothing, hyper- sexuality and promiscuity, and illegal drugs…lots and lots of illegal drugs…especially marijuana and LSD…eastern religions such as Zen Buddhism (due to the idea of enlightenment through meditation)
Many adults viewed the hippies disrespectfully
Many lived in communes, renouncing private property to live together
In a few years though, peace and harmony led to violence and disillusionment

12. Results of the Counterculture Movement
Woodstock was the most well-known part of the counterculture movement
This was intended to be a three day rock concert with the leading musicians in the world at the time…it turned into a drug-infused, sexually explicit festival where, by the end, clothes seemed to be optional while drugs were not
The outcome from Woodstock, and the movement as a whole, was culturally altering
U.S. attitudes towards sexual behavior became more casual and permissive (known as the sexual revolution)
Mass culture became more welcoming of showing violence and sex on TV, in magazines, in books, in movies, and in music
Liberals generally felt the moral loosening was liberating; conservatives felt it was a lack of respect for established social norms
Conservatives were especially worried about rebellious behavior on college campuses and its assault on traditional values; their question was: had we abandoned rational thought in favor of the senses and uninhibited self-expression?
Concern over the counterculture movement was one of the reasons Nixon was elected as U.S. president in 1968