The odyssey began on June 7, 1957. It was graduation night across North Carolina. Four young people, from different parts of the state, would complete their high school experience and then immediately seek out the path of least resistance leading to Myrtle Beach. How could they have known what lay in store for them along the fabled Grand Strand? Their circuitous paths would cross at different times and under a variety of circumstances. By the end of their week at the beach, they would become friends for life. The human equation would be incomplete, however, without that other young man who was gifted with a pair of feet that complemented his social agility. He would be revered as the best Shagger in the world. He would come to know all there was to know about J. T. Wilde, Billy Ray Odom, Olivia Maulden, and Cindy Ann Adams. They would know him only as Mr. Beach.
An era that changed America forever is analyzed through the words of those who led, participated in, and opposed the protest movements that made the 1960s a signature epoch in U.S. culture. There is no better way to understand the 1960s than to read key speeches and texts from the decade, experiencing firsthand writings that capture a signature sense of passion and conviction. That is exactly the approach taken by this book as it analyzes major protest movements of the era, including the Vietnam War protests, the Civil Rights Movement, Women's Lib, the hippie movement, and the nascent GLBQT movement. Organized by movement, the work presents speeches, testimonies, and other important documents side-by-side with accessibly written, expert commentary. The documents and the themes they represent are linked to each other and to events during the decade to put the passionate thinking of the time in context and demonstrate its importance and legacy. By allowing readers to explore the 1960s in this visceral way, the book will provide an engaging learning experience for secondary school and university students, who will also gain helpful insights on how to evaluate historical documents. For the same reason, the volume will be a welcome resource for the general reader interested in understanding—or recalling—why the 1960s produced so many lasting changes in the American psyche.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.