Feel What Baby Boomers Felt In 1968. Your Grandparents? Your Parents? You?

This is a lengthy clip from my six part television series released in 1991 called Making Sense Of The Sixties. It looked at the social movements at that time and the experiences that some baby boomers had growing up. This section looks specifically at the incredible tension in America in 1968 regarding to the Vietnam War, protests, civil rights, the death of Martin Luther King, and the death of Robert Kennedy. By 1968 the U.S. had been involved in the Vietnam War for several years. Many young Americans were drafted to fight in the war, and the conflict had become increasingly unpopular. Protests against the war were common on college campuses and in cities across the country. The civil rights movement was very vocal and young people were active participants in the struggle. The 1960s also saw the rise of a counterculture that rejected traditional values and embraced new forms of music, fashion and art. Many young Americans embraced this movement and became involved in political activism, experimenting with drugs, and some became hippies lived in communes. The 1968 presidential election was a pivotal moment in American politics. Many young people became involved in the campaigns of anti-establishment candidates such as Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy. In addition there were a series of events that had a significant impact on the country. Some of the major events of 1968 included: The Tet Offensive: In January 1968, the North Vietnamese Army launched a surprise attack on several cities in South Vietnam including the capital city of Saigon. The attack was a turning point in the Vietnam War and it led many Americans to question the U.S. government's policies and strategies. The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr: In April 1968 civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. His death sparked widespread protests and riots across the country. Just two months after King's assassination Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was running for president, was assassinated in Los Angeles. His death further heightened the sense of turmoil and uncertainty in the country. Throughout the year, anti-war protests continued to escalate, with large-scale demonstrations in cities across the country including the March on the Pentagon in October. My television series, “Making Sense of the Sixties,” was a six-part documentary series produced in 1991 that explored the political, social, and cultural upheavals of the 1960s in the United States. The series received many positive reviews upon its release, with many critics praising its comprehensive approach and thoughtful analysis. The New York Times described the series as "an intelligent, informative, and often provocative survey." The review praised the series for its "rich archival footage," as well as its "thoughtful commentary." The Los Angeles Times lauded the series calling it "an important and ambitious project that goes beyond mere nostalgia." The review praised the series for its "balanced and comprehensive view" of the 1960s, and for its ability to "convey the emotional power of the period." There were also negative reviews but but I am very proud of this series. It took my team and I 18 months to make it. Research. Uncovering storytellers. Making a dramatic for the children of the baby boom generation who wanted to understand what their parents had been up to and dealing with. It does not cover everything that happened or everyone and was primarily focused on the tens of millions of middle-class young people growing up at that time. If you found watching it of value, please support my efforts to present more clips from my archive by clicking the Super Thanks button below the video screen.