During the 1960's a radical group called the Hippies shocked America with their
alternative lifestyles and radical beliefs.
Through out history the world has seen some generations that have made an impact
more than all of its predecessors. The decade from 1960 to 1970 was definitely
one of those eras. The people didn't follow the teachings of its elders, but
rejected them for an alternative culture which was their very own(Harris 14).
Made up of the younger population of the time this new culture was such a
radical society that they were given their own name which is still used today.
They came to be called the Hippies. The Hippie movement started in San
Francisco, California and spread across the United States, through Canada, and
into parts of Europe (World Book). But it had its greatest influence in America.
During the 1960's a radical group called the Hippies shocked America with their
alternative lifestyle and radical beliefs. Hippies came from many different
places and had many different backgrounds. All Hippies were young, from the ages
of 15 to 25 (Worldbook). They left their families and did it for many different
reasons. Some rejected their parents' ideas, some just wanted to get away, and
others simply were outcasts, who could only fit in with the Hippie population.
"Under 25 became a magical age, and young people all over the world were
united by this bond" (Harris 15). This bond was of Non-conformity and it
was the "Creed of the Young" (Harris 15). Most Hippies came from
wealthy middle class families. Some people said that they were spoiled and
wasting their lives away. But to Hippies themselves this was a way of life and
no one was going to get in the way of their dreams and ambitions. Hippies
flocked to a certain area of San Francisco on the corner of Haight Street and
Ashbury Street, where the world got their first view of this unique group. This
place came to be known as the Haight Ashbury District. There were tours of the
district and it was said that the tour "was the only foreign tour within
the continental limits of the United States" (Stern 147). The Hippies were
so different that the conservative middle class could not relate to them and saw
them as aliens. The Haight Ashbury district lies in the very center of San
Francisco. In the years of 1965 and 1966 the Hippies took over the Haight
Ashbury district(Cavan 49). There they lived and spread their psychedelic theme
through out the whole area. In the Haight Ashbury district there were two parks
that that all Hippies knew well. The most famous of the two was the Golden Gate
Park(Cavan 43). The single most important event that put the Hippies on the map
was held at the Golden Gate Park. It was called the Trips Festival. The Trips
Festival was a week long festival designed to celebrate the LSD experience(Stern
148). Besides this festival dozens of other events took place at Golden Gate
Park, some of which were free concerts by The Grateful Dead and Jefferson
Airplane and Anti-War rallies held by Hippie political leaders. The other park
is called the Buena Vista park and is known for housing hippies at night and for
socializing during the day. As the 1960's progressed, the youth in America
united. "In 1969 400,000 young people materialized for three dizzying days
to listen to rock and blues music, to wear funny clothing or no clothes at all,
to talk, sing, dance, clap hands, to drink beer or smoke pot and make love-but
mostly to marvel again and again that they were all there together" (This
Fabulous Century 64). This festival was held in a small town in up-state New
York and came to be called Woodstock, after the town it was held in. Also in
Greenwich Village, New York Hippies had a place. The Village on every Sunday was
known to have hordes of singers with banjos and drums celebrating their youth
together(Stern 103). One of the basic foundations of the Hippie movement was the
flagrant use of illegal drugs. There were many drugs that the Hippies used but
none was more used then marijuana. From 1960 to 1970 the number of Americans who
had tried marijuana had increased from a few hundred thousand to 8,000,000. The
majority of these new users were from 12 years old to college seniors(This
Fabulous Century 84). To some Hippies, drugs and music were the most important
aspects of their lives. Another drug that was prevalent in the Hippie population
was LSD. Some Hippies thought that "LSD puts you in touch with your
surroundings" (Cavan 114). But that was not what always the case. On
occasion a hippie would take bad LSD and would experience a "bad trip"
or would "freak out" (Cavan 115). When someone took bad LSD, freak out
is exactly what they would do and sometimes they never came back. Bad LSD was so
common that even at Woodstock people were having bad trips and freaking out.
Even with this bad LSD everywhere people still used it, they went as far as to
make a religion out of it. A man by the name of Dr. Timothy Leary was a Harvard
professor who had ideas about LSD. He said "LSD is western yoga. The aim of
all Eastern religion, like the aim of LSD, is basically to get high; that is to
expand your consciousness and find ecstasy and revelation within" (This
Fabulous Century 84). Another preacher of the use of LSD was an author by the
name of Ken Keasey. He traveled around the United States in a psychedelic bus
giving LSD to anyone and everyone who would take it. Hippies were notorious for
there out of the ordinary music. Many Hippies were actually musicians
themselves. Hippies used music as a way to get their thoughts and ideas out. One
of the most influential musicians of the time was Bob Dylan. The lyrics of the
song "Like Rolling Stone" express the thoughts of many Hippies. They
say: How does it feel; How does it feel To be without a home Like a complete
unknown Like a rolling stone?(Harris 69) These lyrics expressed Dylan's personal
thoughts to what was happening to him. He did feel "like a rolling
stone" and so did his peers. His simple but meaningful lyrics are what made
him so popular and successful. Many Hippies considered Dylan as a spokesman for
their beliefs. Drugs were also themes in many bands songs. Jimmy Hendrix's
"Purple Haze" is about marijuana. "Lucy in the Sky with
Diamonds," is a Beatles song about LSD. The Grateful Dead also took part in
the fad with their song "Casey Jones," with lyrics such as "High
on Cocaine" and "You better watch your Speed." Besides their
music and drugs Hippies did some out of the ordinary things that were as
shocking as their day-glo clothing. It was common for hippies in the Haight
Ashbury District to put a nickel in a parking meter, then set up blankets and
lie down in the space for a half hour(Stern 161). This was unusual behavior so
it is not strange that the public did not take them seriously. "People
thought Hippies were the next funniest thing to the Three Stooges"(Stern
161). Television shows like the successful Laugh In made fun of this counter
culture. Movies made fun of them as well. One called the Presidents Analyst was
extremely successful. The movie was dedicated "to the life, liberty, and
pursuit of happenings," and was based on the Hippies wacky antics. People
all over the America were outraged at how strange these people were and at the
same time were in tears at how funny they were. Even though from afar the
Hippies were entertaining, in reality they were devastating the American family
and were tearing the country in two. While the adults of the time were
conservative, hard working, and caring mainly about money, the Hippies didn't
care about any of that. They were party animals. Many didn't work unless it was
completely necessary, they never went to church nor did they care for saving
their virginity until after they were married. They were anything but
conservative and their families rejected them for it. Hippies easy going
attitudes and fun and games lifestyles were put away when the topic of politics
came up. Indubitably the instigator for their existence, politics played a huge
role in their lives. Having strongest feelings for the Vietnam War and for the
Civil Rights Movement, the Hippies made their beliefs known to the world. They
did this in many ways including musical shows, pacifist folk songs, and through
peaceful sit-ins(This Fabulous Century 206). But none of their actions were more
seen and heard of then their protests and rallies. The Hippies were aware that
the war was being lost and that thousands of American soldiers were dying. They
took it upon themselves the make their beliefs heard. They put together a
protest larger then the ever before. Once organized not just Hippies came, but
students, intellectuals, radicals, and citizens of all classes took part in it
(Harris 36). This protest was held in Washington DC in the heart of the United
States. 250,000 protesters gathered for one common goal. They wanted their
troops to come back home and for United States involvement in the war to be
ended. Through the years of the Vietnam War hundreds a anti-war rallies were
held. By the decades end protests seemed to have done some good. Sixty five
percent of all Americans had similar views as the hippies(This Fabulous Century
206). They wanted their troops back and that's what they got in the 1969 when
the President gave the word to bring them back home. Hippies had other feelings
about racism and persecution. They took part in the civil rights movement, just
as they did in the for the Vietnam troops. When President Kennedy tried to pass
his Civil Rights policies and they never went through, the Hippies were more
aggravated (Harris 8) Eventually some Hippies tried to make their colonies where
there was no racism and persecution. There were Hippie communes all over the
United States. Some communes believed that they were "fighting against the
white man's perverted society of pollution ,war, and greed (Stern 166). These
communes didn't get very popular and failed after a few years. Hippies still
fought for racial equality. Finally when the 1960's were over new laws were put
into action helping racial equality which would not have happened without the
Hippies. During the 1960's a radical group called the hippies shocked America
with their alternative lifestyle and radical beliefs. They were young people who
enjoyed life to its fullest. They used illegal drugs and listened to rock and
roll music. With their alternative beliefs and practices they stunned America's
conservative middle class. Concerned chiefly protesting the Vietnam War and with
civil rights they made a huge impact on the America and the world. Even today
the effects of the Hippie movement is still felt. They made huge advantages and
set examples for the youth of today and years to come. BibliographyCavan, Sherry. Hippies Of The Haight. St.Louis: New Critics Press, Inc.,
1972. Harris, Nathaniel. The Sixties. London: Macdonald Education Ltd., 1975.
"Hippies" WorldBook Multimedia Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Stern, Jane and
Michael. Sixties People. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1990. This Fabulous
Century. New York: Time-Life Books, 1970.