Topic > The Vietnam War Movement and Its Influence on the Modern Generation

Have you ever wondered if the effects of the Vietnam War movement help shape and influence the generation we are today? Civil War activists during the Vietnam War protests played a significant role in America's history. Activists banded together to stop the social injustices that were happening in America and Vietnam. There were a variety of social activists such as the Black Panther Party, the feminist movement, anti-war veterans, college students, and the growing culture of the hippie movement. My personal question is this; How did civil rights activists and anti-Vietnam War protests play a role in shaping and influencing the generation I belong to today? In the next paragraphs I will discuss how the protests against the Vietnam War influenced culture, human rights and spread the idea of ​​drugs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay On May 8, 1970, a group of young New York college students held an anti-Vietnam War protest on Wall Street. This demonstration would come to be known as the “hard hat riot” because the young students were brutally attacked by construction workers and businessmen, but mostly by construction workers. These workers mainly belonged to the American working class and were angry because they believed that these college students were privileged and dared to demonstrate protest against the American government and its traditional ideals. These students displayed what they believed was the "new concept of manhood," which consisted of opposing the war by not participating in it and growing one's hair. This new ideal of "manliness" displayed by these college students indicated that there was a rise of rebellion against the traditional American look and gave rise to what is known as the counterculture. Americans saw freedom of style as part of personal expression and the right to express one's political opinion. Other Americans saw it as an act of rebellion against the traditional norm and feared that it could erode established traditional social and gender norms. This expression of style freedom represented self-expression, sexual freedom and equality for women and minorities. over time they not only grew their hair, but adapted new fashion trends that embodied a unisex look. The main symbolism for the Hippies was the flower. The flower represents peace and love and was usually everywhere in the hippie look. The most popular color design for hippies was tie-dye or psychedelic design. They wanted to show that they were as free as possible and did not conform to the government. The unisex look where you can't tell male from female has become the iconic Hippie look. Members of the Black Panther Party also embodied this look. They usually grow their afro hair and wear traditional African clothing as a way to represent their politics. Feminists will try to dress more men and will usually not conform to the traditional female look. Feminists will also cut their hair very short as a way to oppose traditional standards of female beauty. Music also had a major influence during the Vietnam War, particularly rock and roll. Rock & Roll was born around the same time as these movements began, but it was no coincidence. Music was often composed to express the social anxieties caused by the civil rights movements. The tone, theinstrumentation, production style and lyrical content reflected the changes in social political changes that were occurring. Blues, jazz, rhythm and country have all contributed to Rock & Roll. Rock & Roll also served as a gateway for teenagers who were isolated from the movements to gain an understanding of the struggles that were happening at the time. The Vietnam War protests were a shaky time in America's history. The country was in turmoil as people had no faith in the government and its ideals. People wanted to fight for their equality and this took the country in a direction that would change their opinions and those of their people forever. Feminists were a party that sought the liberation of the traditional female gender role. In the 1960s, women were believed to have only one path in life, which was to get married in their early twenties, start a family, and dedicate their lives to that home. Everything changed when the author, Betty Friedan, published her book “The Feminine Mystique” she opened the eyes of all repressed women and made them understand that the situation they found themselves in did not lead to happiness. This book was the catalyst for the beginning of the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s. These feminists were a contributing factor to the anti-war protest. They not only protested against the war, but also fought for the equality of all human beings. Without feminism, women would still remain in the traditional gender role of housewife, and would not have the freedom they have now. The Black Power Movement was a political and social movement that believed in racial pride, self-sufficiency, and equality for all African American or black descendants. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr's peaceful approach to social reform, this group tired of being pacifist and settled on a more militant tactical approach. The movement believed that nonviolent protests did not work to combat racism. The Black Panthers believed that the only way to give voice to black people in America was to overthrow and deconstruct white power. They did this by structuring themselves as the military and often patrolling neighborhoods to protect other blacks from police brutality and racism. Their ideology was to end capitalism and establish a socialist society. The Black Power Panthers organization was such an intimidating threat to the American state that the head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, declared them the number one threat to the internal security of the United States. The Black Panthers certainly influenced my generation by helping to alleviate repression of African Americans and helping them to stand up against racial discrimination and protect each other from police harassment and brutality. This has certainly shaped the culture of our generation. They have successfully managed to reduce the amount of hate in America because racism is taboo nowadays and if you are racist you will be seen in a negative light. During the 1960s and 1970s the famous “anti-drug movement” emerged. These drugs ranged from psychedelics like LSD, to more natural drugs like marijuana. LSD or “lysergic acid diethylamide” is particularly famous for its role during the “counterculture” movement. LSD was founded by chemist Albert Hofmann after studying the medicinal properties of the squill plant and the ergot mushroom. He unconsciously absorbed the drug through his fingertips and experienced a dream-like state and perceived images of different images, shapes and plays of colors. Days later he consumed about 25 milligrams of LSD and had a several-hour trip. He had to have an assistant to help him get home?