Embedded Files
Marlen:Music
The 1960’s were a time for change. After almost two hundred years racism and inequality, people began to bring to light what was happening in the form of music. “Only A Pawn In Their Game” (Bob Dylan) was a song that exposed the people higher in the social order exploiting those who fell below them. The lyric and song title “Only A Pawn In Their Game” speaks of how people are used as insignificant objects. Segregation, bigotry, racism, and hate split people apart but it brought people together for something they believe in. President Donald Trump is a tail-remnant from a different time of malice, inequity and inequality. Again the United States of America bonded together to fight for what they feel is right. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (Amendment 1) It clearly states that we have a right to protest. These songs brought together America and gave a sense of hope for those who felt there wasn’t any.
From the beginning of public media in America the media was completely white. From TV shows to the music, then along came motown. Founded in 1958 by Berry Gordy (A white man) Motown was the first to publicize black people’s music.
In the 60’s, Motown was not only making music, Motown was making history. Motown crossed the into a realm of greater equality, and it used music to break down the barriers of racism and hate between Americans. Motown brought diverse audiences together all dancing and clapping to one common interest. Music had a meaning each song was special and was not just put out for money, it was for the joy of music. Creating and listening. The First musicians to sign onto Motown were, Stevland Hardaway Judkins (Stevie Wonder), Marvin Gaye, the Marvelettes, and the Miracles on the Tamla label and on the Motown label during that period, the Supremes, the Four Tops, and the Jackson 5. They brought their carriers to a new level, from 1960 to 1969 Motown released over 80 top ten records and in 1971 a total of 110 top 10 hits were released. Through all of this the amazing musicians were exploited and were barely given what they deserved. Even today African Americans are seen as lesser. Donald Trump our president was sued for racial discrimination against black people looking to rent apartments in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, by the Justice Department 1973.
“We Shall Overcome” rewritten by Pete Seeger was an influential melody."We Shall Overcome" is a gospel song which became a protest song and a key anthem of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. It isn't a marching song, it is a promise and statement: We shall overcome! Pete Seeger was an American folk singer and social activist. In the 1960’s he was a important writer of protest music in support of civil rights. The song accompanied with many others were the words of oppressed African American's
"Respect" was originally performed by Otis Redding in 1965. The song became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. Aretha Franklin’s (The Queen of Soul) version is a declaration from a strong, confident woman, who knows that she has everything her man wants. She never is unfair to him, and demands his "respect". Respect is something African Americans and women had never gotten and Franklin put their struggles out in a burst of energy and soul. Soul is a genre of music that originated in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It combines elements of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues and jazz. Soul music became popular for dancing and listening in the United States, where record labels such as Motown, and Atlantic were influential in the civil rights movement. Soul became popular internationally and melded with european music to form many other types of music. Aretha Franklin is part of the many great African American singers, performers and musicians who has lead us to what we hear today.
"A Change Is Gonna Come" is a song by American recording artist Sam Cooke, released on December 22, 1964 by RCA Victor. Produced by Hugo & Luigi and arranged and conducted by René Hall,". "It's been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come." The song was inspired by various personal events in Cooke's life, most prominently an event in which he and his escort were turned away from a whites only motel in Louisiana. He wrote the song about his struggles of his own and many others. His repertoire included, (What a) Wonderful Word, nothing can change this love, and Bring it home to me.
Maya: Television
The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement dominated television in the 1960’s. In addition to seeing news about political issues, we see the rise of African Americans starring in popular programs, becoming supporting characters, and even leading their own shows. From Star Trek to the Sammy Davis Jr. Show, you see African American characters coming out of the background acting as maids and servants, and turn into central characters. Using African American characters in these shows distracted a lot of people from reality and they began to see African Americans in a broader view which helped support the Civil Rights movement.
The Leslie Uggams Show was a show to showcase black performers - including Leslie - to the public. This show was very important to the Civil Rights movement because while most shows had black hosts and all white actors, this show was all black and had only one white character. It still showed African Americans as entertainers which is where white people saw them so while continuing the Civil Rights movement, it also fed the stereotypes. The show only lasted for one season.
Mission : Impossible ran from 1966-1973. One of the main supporting characters was an African American man played by Greg Morris. He was a electronics expert that helped his team of spies with their government missions. Week after week, people watched a successful African American businessman protect the United States with his intellect which opened their minds to the possibility that black people could accomplish much more than what they expected. Because of the Civil Rights movement actors like Greg Morris are able to play such iconic characters.
The show Julia was a show played by a mainly African American cast. It showed Julia Baker working as a nurse. Her husband died in Vietnam so she was left to raise her young son Corey alone. This show showed how African Americans had good family values. It also gave single mothers especially African American mothers a sense of hope that things were going to end up okay. The show ran for three seasons and for a mainly African American cast exceeded what many thought it could go to.
The Jeffersons showed a African American couple who had made a good living, and had money. The show ran for eleven seasons showing it was very popular. This show almost summed up the entire Civil Rights movement. It showed white people that African Americans could be successful as well. It gave them the push they needed to see the successful African Americans in real life not just on a screen.
The Fugitives showcased a very special African American character. L. Scott Cadwell, acted as one of the returning characters Poole. She was very pertinant to the show but that was only the beginning. Cadwell then starred in many other television shows and won a Tony Award for acting on broadway. Cadwell showed how African Americans can do so much more than cook and clean, but that they could be stars.
In closing, throughout television in the you see African American actors coming out of the background and into center screen. They’re act as regular people but what they were really doing was opening people's minds to the possibility that there could be real African Americans who were like the ones on the screen. The was a time for change. A time for a movement. A time for Civil Rights.
Kai:News MLK
The 1960s were a crucial time in history, and it has shaped our world today. The 1960s included the Vietnam war, Martin Luther King Jr.’s uprising, John F. Kennedy’s presidency, the voting rights act, and our first moon landing. These were all very important events in history that have changed the world.
The Vietnam war was from 1955 - 1975. It was a war between 20 different countries. During the war, 1,450,000 people died. It wasn’t uncommon to have a family member or neighbor in the war. In the end, North Vietnam won the war. The Vietnam war was all over newspapers and television. Since this was an era where people wanted peace, many people protested against it, including Jane Fonda. In the end, America was defeated, and North Vietnam won the war.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a big leader in the 1960s. He fought for equality for black people until his death, in 1968. He led many protests and worked to eradicate injustice against African-Americans. His death was all over the media, with people writing that they were “shocked and saddened”.
John F. Kennedy was president from January 1961 - November 1963. He was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. His death was the cause of “shock, disbelief, and grief”, as the Boston Globe stated right after his death. Many people were mortified by his death, and Lee Harvey Oswald was shot two days after Kennedy, by a nightclub owner. Lee Harvey Oswald denied shooting Kennedy, but the police had proof.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6, 1965 to safeguard the right to vote of Black Americans and ban the use of literacy tests. It outlawed discrimination, ended racial segregation, and protected the voting rights of minorities and women. It was a very big part of history, and America wouldn’t be the same without it. The Voting Rights act was big in the media, with many newspapers writing about it, hoping to catch the whole story. The newspaper below states “Long Debate Ends - Civil Rights Bill Becomes Law.”
Apollo 11 was the first manned lunar landing mission with a crew of three astronauts: Mission commander Neil A. Armstrong, Command Module pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module pilot Edwin “Buzz” E. Aldrin, Jr. It placed the first humans on the surface of the moon on July 20 and returned them back to Earth on July 24 of 1969. This was a very big part of history, and many newspapers and newscasts were broadcasting the story for everyone to see. There are a few theories that the moon landing was fake, but there is no real proof.
Many things happened in the 1960s that changed history as we know it today.
Some of those things are Martin Luther King Jr.’s uprising, the moon landing, John F. Kennedy’s presidency, The Voting Right’s Act, and the Vietnam war. The 1960s were a very important era. When are we going to change history?
All- Film
Films in the 1960s were some of the biggest turning points for the Civil Rights movement. Films were watched by many people for entertainment, so when people saw African Americans in such popular and public films, it was good exposure for the Black actor or actress and the Civil Rights cause. There were not always full African American casts, but they had at least some black cast, and that was good enough.
Lilies of the Field was a very crucial movie that contributed to the Civil rights cause. The main character was Homer Smith, a traveling carpenter played by Sidney Poitier. During his travels he came across three white nuns, who wanted to build a chapel in the desert and thought that Homer could help them. This was such a great and culturally different movie, because it showed that African Americans were helpful. While it got pulled into the stereotype that African Americans were helpers to white men and women, it still showed that they were more than just that. African American men weren't always allowed to be around white people, especially white women. However, movies like these changed a lot of people's minds. The movie quotes, “ He is not of our faith nor of our skin, but he is a men of greatness.” Later on, Sidney won an Oscar for the leading role in this movie and was the first African American to do so.
A Raisin in the Sun was a movie played by an all African-American cast except for one. This was such a pertinent movie because it was so realistic. It summed up the current struggle of what was going on in society at the time. It was about an African American family struggling with poverty, racism, and family issues as they work together trying to get a better life. It made the people who were watching, empathetic to African Americans feelings. They related to the people's struggles. Movies like these were very influential and made people rethink some of their actions and choices towards African Americans.
To Kill a Mockingbird was an American drama film directed by Robert Mulligan. It is based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The novel is known for its graciousness and humor, despite dealing with the serious problems of racial inequality.It stars Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch and Mary Badham as Scout. The film was very highly praised and got brilliant reviews. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Peck, and was nominated for eight, including Best Picture. The film and novel exhibit what life was like for Scout in her home town in a time of racial inequality, racism and hatred. She eventually overcomes this, and accepts the the good and evil in her town, and the world.
Five Branded Women was an war drama directed by Martin Ritt. It is not very well known, but it was about 5 women who were accused of being involved with a Nazi soldier. It was one of the few films that showed what life was like for women during WW2, and it also actually showed women, as strong and independent models. The film had displayed what women had to do, what they went through, instead of just ignoring them, as the previous generations did. In fact, the women in the film even shoot Nazi soldiers as a sign of defiance. Even though some sexist stereotypes did exist throughout the movie, there were considerably less compared to the movies of the past, which displayed women as fragile and obedient.
Cleopatra was a romance/historical film, made in 1963. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Rouben Mamoulian, and Darryl F. Zanuck, it showed the accomplishments, romance, and tragedies of Cleopatra. Although the film romanticized some, or most of the events that transpired during that time, it stayed true to history. Unlike other films that have had female lead roles in the past, they did not portray Cleopatra as a weak woman in need of saving. She was shown as a strong female leader, just as she was seen in the past.
In summary, we think that films have really changed throughout the 1900s, to today's films. Women always played the "damsel in distress" role, and blacks were not even allowed to be in the films. Later on, women still played roles, although they were considerably less prominent then the roles of males. Blacks were still somewhat shown in a racist way, even if they were allowed to be in the films. Back then, in the 1960s, we really started to value Ethnical Equality, which means that all people, regardless of differences in race, sex, etc. should get equal opportunities. Civil rights was an example of the advocation of this value. The 1960s were the bridges to modern films and equal rights. It was a time of beautiful films that captured the struggle, romance, and drama of the time, and the past. It was the time of changing.
Michelle: Advertisement
The 1960s were the years that changed many people. The topic of equality for people of color and women became an important question. As a result of this, diversity began to bleed into the media, especially the one thing we see and hear almost everyday, in every place; Ads. Advertisement took a giant leap forward in the 1960s. Instead of the vintage ads that we think about when we talk about the 1900s, the started verging into creative and more witty sections of advertisement methods. Marketing businesses started putting large print onto ads, hoping to attract more people. It was the big, loud, and colorful approach to advertisement. And as stated before, people of color, specifically blacks, came into the spotlight more. Equality was becoming a very important important topic of discussion, so it was no surprise when advertisements started to reflect this.
Pepsi-Cola came out with their slogan in the 1960s, “Now it’s Pepsi-for those who think young.” This was one of the first advertisements that showed people of color, without the advertisement itself or it’s contents reflecting them in a racist way. It was a string of advertisements displaying people, white and black, doing everyday things such as playing or eating, but while drinking Pepsi-Cola. Since Pepsi-Cola was such a big brand back then, it was excellent exposure for the cause of civil rights.
The 1960s were very influential, and marked the beginning of the fight for civil rights. With Martin Luther King Jr. advocating for the cause, a lot of other people joined in. The racist ads that were once considered normal were not criticized, so companies had to accommodate this sudden change. Black people were suddenly in a lot of commercials, more than any other decade before this time. Everyone was becoming more self-aware and empathetic, which companies took advantage of. They put more people of color into their ads, which attracted more people. This helped both sides. The companies got more customers, and the civil rights cause got more attention.
One of the more crucial American Values during this time was “Ethical Equality,” and “Change and Progress.” Ethical Equality is the value that all people are equal, both spiritually and in the opportunities that they deserve. This includes differences in race, gender, disability, age, sexual preference, etc. In this case, people of different races were being treated like white people, the dominant culture and race. Another important value during that time was “Change and Progress.” It states that Change in inevitable, and progress is beneficial, and would lead to success. If you don't keep up, you’ll fall behind, so newer would be better. Change during this time was, indeed, inevitable. People of color and women were getting to be more influential. Now, we have basically the same values. We have successfully gotten people with different sexual preferences to have the same rights as we do. However, instead of “Change and Progress,” we now value “Achievement and Success.” Instead of measuring our success by how much talent we have, or how well known we are, we now value the accumulation of wealth, more so than the actual wealth. For example, a rich person is more respected than a retired rich person, even if they both have the same amount of money. This just goes to show how superficial our society has become through the decades.
This Coca-Cola commercial originally looked like this, and it was published in magazines, etc. just like any normal ad that Coca-Cola came out with. However, when the civil rights movement began in 1960, people began to care more about the skin color on these posters. Wishing to please it’s consumers, Coca-cola created this new advertising, this time using editing to make the skin color darker:
This is, once again, another, more obvious example of companies wishing to milk the civil rights movement for as much money as it’s worth. By buying Coca-Cola, perhaps they want you to think that you are supporting the civil rights cause, just because the poster has a black person on it. It was slightly sinister, but a technically a win for everyone.
Advertisement evolved so much from 1900 to 1960. 1960 was the year when women began advocating for their rights, when civil rights became a topic of debate. If you skip back ten or twenty years, the kind of advertising that you’ll see is so different from the kind you’ll see in the 1960s. The 1960s were basically the bridge into modern advertisement. In the 1940s to 1950s, there were considerably less black people, if there were any at all. If there were people of color, they were usually being hired for advertisement for their skin color, to be shown in a racist way. Women also were on magazine covers and newspapers in ads. However, they were shown in a sexist way. Their roles in the magazines were usually the ditzy, confused woman who cooked and cleaned. Here, as shown in the pepsi commercial, the women that were in the commercial were clearly not displayed in a sexist way. In fact, they were doing normal, everyday things, and advertising the product, just like any other man would.
To conclude, the 1960s were a very important time period. It started the time period in which advertisement began to incorporate all races and sexes. It transitioned from vintage, old fashioned, sexist ads, slowly to the ads that we see nowadays on subways and newspapers. The civil rights movement affected the advertisement world heavily, as all the companies started to adjust theirselves to fit in with the popular opinion. The 1960s were the years when advertisement, and America, were changed forever.
Michelle: Citations-
http://changingminds.org/explanations/values/american_values.htm
http://www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/coca-colas-contribution-to-the-civil-rights-movement-of-the-60s
http://adage.com/article/ad-review/bbdo-made-pepsi/132790/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqG5qH2I94Y
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/characters.html
https://longreads.com/2016/07/07/women-were-included-in-the-civil-rights-act-as-a-joke/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Branded_Women
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