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Growing up in the United States – Part 2A
The 1960’s (1960-1964)
The beginning of the 1960’s in the U.S. was pretty much status quo but it was somewhat “the calm before the storm” and the storms of change would roll in before the end of the decade and things would never be the same, well, at least not as brazen as before.
Overview
One thing that did carry over from the 1950’s was the growth of the U.S. economy and the resulting prosperity (for some).
The decade of the 60’s was probably one of the most tumultuous decades in U.S. American history. There was war, assassinations, civil rights movement, women rights movement, riots, drugs, protests, civil disobedience, and ending up with landing on the moon. Whew, what a decade to grow up in!
There were many good paying jobs in the northern states, therefore, many people, especially blacks, migrated from the southern states to the northern states. Actually, this was the largest migration of people in recent U.S. history. If a person was willing to work and persisted in acquiring a job, you were likely to get a job in one of the auto manufacturing or related companies. My dad worked in an auto plant. It didn’t matter concerning your educational level, many people never completed school.
Personal life – Living in “The Projects”
We moved into a public housing (projects) during the early to mid-60’s. It comprised of families whose income was low enough and other factors to qualify. There were 3 types of building structures, i.e. 3-story, 6-story and 14-story buildings.
The projects were also the home for some married students of Wayne State University (which is a much respected public research university in Detroit) who lived in the 14-story buildings. We lived in the 3-story building on the top floor.
Living in the projects was not something people were proud of but to kids we didn’t know about that type of thing; all we knew was that we had fun playing tag, dodge ball, shooting marbles, hide & seek, rolling old tires, roller skating, yo-yos, spinning tops, jumping rope & hop scotch (girls) and riding a sled in the winter time.
Once President Kennedy’s motorcade rode right past the projects (on the freeway)and many people went to the edge of the freeway to wave at him. President Kennedy was a very popular president (even though he was Catholic).
A typical day during the summer was to wake up, have some cold or hot cereal and go outside to play with my friends. I would stay out all day until lunch time and then return to outside. However, I’d better come in before the street lights came on or I’d be in trouble, big time!
Certain other restrictions I had, which was not to play in the basement or ride up and down on the elevators in the 6 and 14-story buildings, these two offenses would also get me into trouble. Today these areas would be known as “living in the hood” or “the Ghetto.” Whatever, you’ve got to live somewhere!
National Activities
Meanwhile, in the southern part of the U.S. the Civil Rights Movement were heating up from the 1950’s and protests regarding state-sanctioned racial discrimination was being protested against. When police brutality against peaceful demonstrators began to be televised, the nation conscience was awakened and people became enraged and objected to the brutality in the southern states and injustice in general.
Furthermore, the war in Viet Nam was escalating and young people were drafted into the military to fight a war they were against and would lay the groundwork for anti-war activities in the latter part of the 60’s.
Nevertheless, for whatever reason, President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Many people were saddened by this event and ultimately his brother Robert Kennedy would go on to campaign for the U.S. presidency in the latter part of the decade.
Because of segregation in the south and the refusal of the governor of Mississippi to allow a black student to enroll in the University of Mississippi there was a confrontation between the U.S. government and 2,000 students blocking the entrance to the school resulting in federal marshals being sent there and federalizing the Mississippi National Guard for a total of some 31,000 military troops occupying the area to ensure the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against racial discrimination against the University of Mississippi for a suit filed against the university on behalf of Mr. James Meredith.
Because President Kennedy made it a goal to fight against the many ills of society, he was very popular with many people. He chose his brother Robert Kennedy to be the U.S. Attorney General and used the power of the U.S. presidency to help correct them.
The U.S. and U.S.S.R came close to nuclear war when it was learned that there was a nuclear missile build-up in Cuba which is less than 100 miles (160km) from the U.S.
I remember in grade school when we had to know where the “Fallout Shelters” were for us to go there in case we were bombed.
This was a very tense time in U.S. history.
On a more positive note, in response to the successes of the Soviet Union’s space program, President Kennedy pledged the nation to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. Unfortunately he would not live to see it happen which was not only for the benefit of the U.S. but for the benefit of the whole planet.
Part 2B (1965-1969) To be continued, please stay tuned.
Peyman and S&W thanks for your contributions.
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