The Sixties Terry Anderson Chapter 1 Summary

Caitlin
01/09/12
Writing 2

Response for Chapters 1&2 In The Sixties, by Terry Anderson, the reader becomes immersed into another era. Having read the first two chapters, it reflects on the increasing tensions of the time period due to McCarthyism and an awakening of individuality. Most people when asked about the 60’s talk about hippies, riots and drugs during this tumultuous time period. Though that was one element of the decade, there was an abundant amount of hate, paranoia and conflict. Looking at the 50’s, you’ll find it’s in stark contrast from the eye-opening conflicts, and struggles of those in 60’s who are trying to find themselves, with the rights that everyone deserves. The 50’s era was an economic utopia. On the surface, many things looked wonderful, spending and disposable cash was at an all-time high, marriage rates indicated many successful unions of lovers, and the family was seen as the epitomy of happiness. However things were far from perfect. Women were expected to only be wives and mothers and not allowed to think
for themselves or express any personality. Blacks were beaten, degraded and segregated from “white’s only” public places of business and schools. McCarthyism was in full swing and accusations of in-country commies were ruining many lives of innocent people, including anyone that was gay or seen as different. Conformity was the norm, and if you didn’t conform then you were an outcast (Anderson).
In the 60’s, for the first time ever in our country young people were the majority and savvy politicians took advantage of this. Kennedy’s famous “Inaugural Address” is a great example of calling on young people to recognize the changing world they lived in. Many women were feeling the invisible cages that society had placed them in and wanted out. Blacks took to peaceful protests and sit-ins, in the effort of receiving the rights that they should have been receiving since slavery had been abolished a century before. And many individuals in the general public were beginning to realize how McCarthyism was essentially glorified witch hunts with no real bearing on the threat of communism. Also of important note is the advent of television and how it took over the newspapers as the medium that most Americans sought after for news (Anderson). The power of television is that it could reach far more people, in a much shorter amount of time than what had ever been experienced before.
It opened the public’s eyes that were unaware or in denial of what was really going on around the country. Trumped up headlines from the nations papers that could say one thing and hide the reality of certain horrific events happened often. One such event was that of Emmitt Till. Southern newspapers expressed outrage and sadness over the teen’s tragic and brutal murder, but television allowed people an uncensored look of the damage done to his body. How the same southern community rallied behind the murderers, despite the false headlines of their newspapers and the confessions proving these evil men’s part in Till’s death (Emmitt Till). It helped to jumpstart organizations and sympathetic whites to realize just how unequal life was for someone depending on the color of your
skin. Blacks were finally starting to gain momentum through the peaceful efforts of people like Martin Luther King Jr. Though voting rights continued to be a struggle. Women were finally being seen as people and not just objects, wives or mothers. Birth control became accepted, which was allowing women to not be trapped into “shotgun weddings” due to being pregnant without being married. With the Equal Pay Act, women were starting to receive better pay and benefits in the workplace. Young people protested on college campuses for freedom and liberty from their parents and a scornful older generation (50’s) that was scared of changing the idea of life they were familiar with. Things didn’t change overnight, and some problems and racism were persistent. But a quote that I feel best exemplifies this time period, is Kennedy saying “Let us begin (Anderson).”

Anderson, Terry H. The Sixties. 4th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2012.Print.
MartinKentFilms. “Emmett Till - Part 2, Civil Rights Movement History Documentary.” Youtube.
Youtube, 26 Jan. 2010. Web. 09 Jan. 2012.