What's Goin' On

"Baby boomers," the babies of the 1950's matured into adulthood in the 1970's. They realized the mistakes made by earlier generations and were not too shy to speak up about them. The mistreatment of women, African Americans, and other minorities were recognized and acts of the government were questioned. The seventh decade of the century was a turbulent time of revolution, reform, and realization for a people whose awareness was waking from the slumber of the contented 1950's to the harsh realities of war, racial prejudice, and rampant social injustice.

The youth of the 70's were very instrumental in spurring change. They often used protests to speak against injustice, particularly concerning the Vietnam War. In 1970 Ohio National Guardsmen were sent to Kent State University to "restore order." Large student protests were not uncommon during this time, but this protest ended in the death of four students and the injury of many others (Gordon). In 1971 an amendment to the Constitution was passed giving citizens, above the age of 18, instead of 21, the right to vote (Image Nine). If those 18 could be drafted to fight for their country in war or "police action," they wanted the right to be recognized as citizens with the voice of a vote.

Women in the 1970's also continued speaking out against many previously ignored injustices. One of the most instrumental organizations working for the equal rights of women was the National Organization for Women, established in 1966. During the 70's they continued their work toward ending sexual discrimination. The organization also worked toward the legalization of abortion and the repeal of any anti-abortion law. In 1973, in an important case for women's rights, the Supreme Court found in Roe v. Wade that a Texas anti-abortion law violated a woman's right to privacy (Reuters). Women also protested and legally fought to earn equal wages as men as they moved actively into the workplace.

During this past century's seventh decade blacks also made many strides toward equal rights. The awakening of the previous decade concerning the rights of minorities continued in violence. The Black Panther Party, organized in 1966, was formed to protect blacks from brutal police action. By the 1970's it had become a Marx-Communist group that favored violence, if necessary, to bring about change, making it Public Enemy #1. The government, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in particular, very threatened by the potential strength of the Party, jailed and murdered members, causing the party to fall apart. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, started by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a group that emphasized the importance of non-violence and was the backbone of the civil rights movement during the 1960's (Microsoft Corporation). It continued its work during the seventies. Forced busing was an emotional issue in many cities across the States during this time. Riots and protests surrounded schools as blacks were integrated into the school system for the first time. As African-Americans entered mainstream America the popularity of many black men in sports soared. Muhummed Ali defeated previously undefeated George Foreman to become the heavyweight boxing champion in 1974. That same year Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run and set a new record.

There was a lot upheaval both within the nation and abroad. Conflict was a prevalent attitude during the 70's, particularly in the early part of the decade. The United States desperately attempted to spread its ideas of democracy and crush Communism. The Vietnam conflict continued overseas until troops began to be withdrawn in 1973. Israel won the Yom Kippur War that year after being attacked by Egyptians and Syrians. In 1975 Pol Pot, leader of a communism rebel group called Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia (ABC News). South Africans revolted against apartheid in 1976. Students in Iran took over the United States Embassy, taking 100 people hostage for 444 days in 1979. Pinochet took over Chile in 1973 ,capturing and torturing 3000 people. The United States and the Soviet Union continued the Cold War, a war more political and mental conflict than physical.

Conflict within the United States was also turbulent. Minority groups, women and African Americans in particular, protested and fought to get equal rights. The Kent State University massacre occurred in 1970, sparking much distrust and dissent of the government. After the Watergate Scandal was uncovered that distrust grew exponentially, and justly so. Newspaper heiress, Patty Hearst was kidnapped in 1974 by a left wing terrorist group called the Symbionese Liberation Army (Castelluci). Her abduction was another example of the confusion and disillusion of the decade. In 1973 many Arab countries formed an oil embargo, causing an oil crisis in the United States and precipitating a world recession. The crisis shortened many citizens fuses inciting even more conflict.

Americans during the seventh decade were influenced by many things, as with any decade. Three of the most influential subjects of this time involved entertainment, drugs, and the government. By the 70's most homes, even those with low incomes owned atleast one television. Television became a very important part of the American lifestyle. Citizens got their news as well as sitcoms, talk shows, game shows, and movies. Music was also very important, especially to young people. Musicians of rock music addressed some of the many concerns and feelings of the time. Marvin Gaye, an artist of the time, had an "increasing concern about poverty, discrimination, and political corruption in American society" ( Coll). Rock split into many types, including soft rock, hard rock, pop rock, country rock, folk rock, punk rock, and shock rock.

Drugs were very important part of American society during the seventies, again particularly to young people, "baby boomers." In 1972, President Nixon made the anti-drug campaign the number one priority of law enforcement agencies. His alarm was not unmerited. The number of heroin addicts in the U.S. multiplied almost 10 times between 1960 and 1972. The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse reported about 8.3 million current users of marijuana in the United States. This commission, appointed by Congress, and seeing no physical addiction, no major contribution to the commission of criminal acts, and no major negative affects of health, recommended that marijuana, the country's third most popular drug, be legalized for personal, private use. Marijuana was outranked only by alcohol and nicotine (U.S. News and World Report). Of course the use of many other drugs, including cocaine and LSD, soared during the decade.

The United States government was very influential to the mindset of the citizens. In the previous decade, the President and many other leaders had been assassinated. In 1973 Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, journalists exposed President Nixon's involvement in the Watergate Scandal, leading to his resignation and further disappointing the country. In 1971 what came to be known as the "Pentagon Papers" were published. The massive top-secret history of the nation's role in Vietnam exposed the government's lies to the public. In 1975 the unemployment rate reached 7.9 million, the highest in 15 years. That same year the United States began to pullout of what was sure to be a never-ending battle in Vietnam and Cambodia, after losing thousands of lives on both sides.

To say the least the 70's was an important time to the country and the world as we know it now. The resolution of many topics of concern during this time, involving the rights of minorities and the nation's relationship with other countries for example were all recognized and questioned decades before now, in the 1970's. The U.S. Has come a long way to resolve these topics, but just like bell bottoms and platform shoes, fad styles of the seventies, the feelings of unrest and demand for reform and truth will again return to the minds of citizens.