The Vietnam War led to social upheavals in the 1960s. Many individuals chose to speak out against the United States’ participation in the war. One of these was the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. While he hesitated at first to speak out, he later chose to break his silence. In a speech on April 4, 1967 in New York City, he enumerated his reasons for doing so.
Dr. King discussed the effects the Vietnam War had on the programs against poverty in America. He believed that the money used for war should instead be used to serve the impoverished. More importantly, he said, the war sent black men to die fighting for liberties they did not receive in their own country. He also stated that violence would not solve problems. If violence would not solve problems within the ghettos, it also would not do so in Vietnam. He also talked about the destruction that war does to a country. In the words of Dr. King, “We have destroyed their two most cherished institutions: the family and the village. We have destroyed their land and their crops.” As a preacher, he could no longer remain silent about these things.
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I agree with Dr. King on many of these items. As a world, we spend countless dollars aimed at destroying each other. This money could be better spent searching for a cure to cancer or AIDS. We could use it to feed hungry children or immunize children against childhood diseases. Currently, we only need to look to the Middle East for a situation where war continues endlessly. In Syria, countless lives are destroyed and many homes are lost. There is a concern about chemical weapons being used. Israel and Palestine cannot reach a settlement.
However, while I understand that Dr. King fought for civil rights for African Americans, this example is not necessarily current today. Most Americans today enjoy amazing liberties. As Americans, we tend to take our liberty and freedom for granted. Stories of women dying for the ability to read and go to school should remind us of how fortunate we are to be American. While we are not perfect as a country, we have evolved tremendously compared to many other countries.
Music and Protest in the 1960s
The 1960s developed a counterculture movement aimed at social change. The desired changes included civil rights, women’s rights, protest to the war in Vietnam, and social equality. Much of the protest revolved around the folk music and the folk artists. The music generated excitement concerning various causes. Several folk artists became well known for their protest music. These included Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, and Pete Seeger.
While Bob Dylan’s name remains the most famous name associated with the 1960s’ folk music, Phil Ochs also wrote many protest songs. Phil Ochs was a prolific songwriter and a dedicated activist. His songs centered on humanist causes and his dislike of social inequality. His range of topics included protesting the American involvement in the Vietnam War to his support of organized labor unions for mine workers. His songs also touched upon how he felt regarding the police involvement in the 1968 Democratic Convention.
Beyond a doubt, the folk music of the sixties played a significant role in the counterculture and protest movement. It served as a backdrop for the protest movement and also helped to advance the causes. The folk singers often would volunteer their time and talents at various demonstrations and protests. Phil Ochs, as discussed in the documentary, would turn down professional, paying jobs, in favor of a cause he supported. Obviously, this showed the commitment he had to these various causes. It would be easy to sing about the various issues merely as a means to sell records to young idealists and not volunteer his time. However, he did not do this. He actually believed enough in what he sang to forgo monetary gain in favor of the various counterculture movements.
Some artists today write music to discuss various causes they support. Particularly, in the past decade, there were many songs regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the songs today do not receive the same publicity. There is not a similar movement in today’s generation. The 1960s generation helped propel the folk music to the forefront of protest culture. America today lacks the cohesiveness of a youth counterculture.
- King, Jr., Martin Luther. “Beyond Vietnam—A Time to Break Silence.” Speech at Riverside Church. New York City, NY. 4 April 1967.
