While it is a convenient conceit that activism was a product of and the
sole property of the mid-sixties on, the answer goes much deeper. Even
smile-and-be-happy years of DDE, there was significant, if muted,
agitation that centeed primarly on civil and human rights. Many of the
later leaders were products of this era. Three that I am personally
aware of that were leaders at the U of Mich, and graduated in 1962, were
instrumental in starting SDS. Having graduated then makes them born
circa 1940-41. They were involved in much less radical activities in
the late 50s but blossomed in an environment that provided,at a minimum,
the following events:
a) the coming of Camelot which led us all to believe that we only had
to put ourselves out on the line and all things would be possible,
b) the first expansion of the "Vietnam experience" by Kennedy,
c) what we perceived as at least a partial failure in the civil rights
movement due to the horrendous reaction to the few minor advances, and
c) the death of Kennedy which "proved" to us that things could not be
changed by political-governmental actions and processes.
These combined to produce the nihilism leading to radicalization of the
young people of the era, led by those of a few years earlier who
despaired of ever achieving
anything worthwhile.
Neil Friedman wrote:
>
> I am increasingly interested in the role of World War 2 babies (not baby
> boomers) in the sixties. Anyone with experiences, theories, evidence,
> notions etc. about this - please reply. If it is so that they (we)
> played a big role --- why? Why this cohort?
>
> Many blessings,
> Neil
> www.neilheart.com
> www.Relationship-Talk.com
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