Unit 7: Social Movements of the 1960s

Who Worked in the Social Movements?

Many people who believed the government and the society were wrong joined one or more of the social movements. Black and white young people worked in all the movements, as did many middle-class white women and some men.

Those who worked in the civil rights movement included older, usually male, Negro leaders; black and white young people, some white professional men and women, and some white housewives.

Young people who were rebelling against their teachers, parents and government authorities joined the youth movement. There were few older people involved, since many of the young people believed they could not trust anyone over thirty years old. However, many middle class white people, especially women, as well as lower and middle class black Americans, actively supported young people in the anti-war movement. They burned draft cards, held large rallies and marched in protest of the government war policy.

The women who formed the women's movement included professionals; educated women of color; young or middle-aged white housewives and mothers, as well as young activists.

Not only did some of the same people work in several movements, but the movements also used many of the same strategies and tactics, and songs. When the civil rights movement began, nonviolent, direct action tactics like "sit-ins" and boycotts were used to protest segregation laws. Young people also used "sit-ins" at the administration offices of their schools and added "teach-ins" to educate people about the war in Vietnam. The civil rights movement, the anti-war movement and the women's movement all used the legal system to test laws and to force changes. In all the movements, workers gathered public support by holding large rallies and marches to educate people about oppression and discrimination, to inform people about the movements, and to recruit new members.

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