Hippies, Indians, and the Fight for Red Power

Hippies, Indians, and the Fight for Red Power

Through much of the 20th century, federal policy toward Indians sought to extinguish all remnants of native life and culture. That policy was dramatically confronted in the late 1960s when a loose coalition of hippies, civil rights advocates, Black Panthers, unions, Mexican-Americans, Quakers and other Christians, celebrities, and others joined with Red Power activists to fight for Indian rights.

In Hippies, Indians and the Fight for Red Power, Sherry Smith offers the first full account of this remarkable story. Hippies were among the first non-Indians of the post-World War II generation to seek contact with Native Americans. The counterculture saw Indians as genuine holdouts against conformity, inherently spiritual, ecological, tribal, communal-the original "long hairs." Searching for authenticity while trying to achieve social and political justice for minorities, progressives of various stripes and colors were soon drawn to the Indian cause. Black Panthers took part in Pacific Northwest fish-ins. Corky Gonzales' Mexican American Crusade for Justice provided supplies and support for the Wounded Knee occupation. Actor Marlon Brando and comedian Dick Gregory spoke about the problems Native Americans faced. For their part, Indians understood they could not achieve political change without help. Non-Indians had to be educated and enlisted. Smith shows how Indians found, among this hodge-podge of dissatisfied Americans, willing recruits to their campaign for recognition of treaty rights; realization of tribal power, sovereignty, and self-determination; and protection of reservations as cultural homelands. The coalition was ephemeral but significant, leading to political reforms that strengthened Indian sovereignty.

Thoroughly researched and vividly written, this book not only illuminates this transformative historical moment but contributes greatly to our understanding of social movements.

Country	USA
Author	Sherry L. Smith
Binding	Hardcover
Brand	Brand: Oxford University Press
EAN	9780199855599
Edition	1
Feature	Used Book in Good Condition
ISBN	9780199855599
Label	Oxford University Press
Manufacturer	Oxford University Press
MPN	15 halftones
NumberOfItems	1
NumberOfPages	280
PartNumber	15 halftones
PublicationDate	2012-05-03
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Studio	Oxford University Press
ReleaseDate	0000-00-00

Hippies, Indians, and the Fight for Red Power

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