1960s Primary Source Doc Stories

They lie about us all being "equal" over here. And continue to point out that we're all serving for the same country… the United States of America. Yet, they neglect to mention that the country we're serving for is consumed by racism. They want me on the front lines to die. I refuse to die for someone that does not accept me as a human being. But, I will continue fighting, so that I can get home to my loving family.

This is not the only crisis that is happening in America, protest has become rapid. Not only from the war, but for rights. I am considering joining the movement, but after seeing the pictures from protest where police intervened I am hesitant.

Morgan & Jakobi I remember burning the draft card, and the liberty I felt at the time. I regret it now, they're after me and I am on the run. They want me in the war. They want me to fight for this country and I want to know what this country has done for me.

The country was changing… and it wasn't the good change. The government was going in a different direction, and the Civil Rights movement was changing as well. And in all of it, the country was scared. Terrified of what would happen next.

It was then that Bob knew that our country would be a better place. " God always does something for a reason" Bob knew that the President dying people will be sad but the country will move forward when suddenly tragedy struck. Bob's old college friend and civil rights leader Malcom X was shot down.

And when I loom around, everyone is just as torn as me. Confused as to why all this chaos and destruction has to happen. Why we have to suffer. Why we see 3 leaders shot dead.

I remember reading one article about the death of Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who murdered JFK. I remember my teenage brother laughing about how Oswald's glory was short lived, as he died 48 hours after he killed the president. After hearing him, I sighed to myself. People were dying left and right, it was hard to tell who would be next. I tried to read the paper for any kind of emotion over the death of Oswald. There was nothing I could find that was directly connected to him. there was however, much emotion over the death of JFk, as there should have been. I sighed again. I remember thinking that the world was going to hell. As a thought that, I had no idea that years from now, I'd be proven correct.

I saw as the news report continued to speak about other random acts of violence in black neighborhoods. My mind was dazed. Why would someone act people who only want equality and equal rights. Black people aren't really askin' for much, they want to be seen in the same light as white people. That's all I'm askin', can we all just be friends with each other, regardless of race?

War is breathing down our neck. Where more lives will be lost.

It seems our boiling point has no degree higher than the temperatures we've endured. Our dreams are just shot like our leaders. Dead as remainder. We're just sobbing in our sweat. We've worked hard for far too log to carry such regret. Finally we get freedom; but with a speech impediment.

Lyndon's words don't give much reassurance to the issues. The jobs, equality, and security in this country are lost. The people assume that there are many conspiracies within our government. We don't trust our nation's leaders anymore and they are quickly disappearing. We cannot count on anyone but ourselves; we don't know who will betray us and who will just pass from our sight. How can we rebuild a nation, when there is no trust?

Now my older cousin has joined a new civil rights leader named Martin Luther King Jr, he is the hope for America to unite as one.

That same day, there was a protest in my home town. I later found out that both my cousins were murdered by dogs that were unleashed because of the protest. I couldn't stand it. So many of my close family gone simply because of the color of their skin.

Living in the 60s was like an inkblot. Everyone stared at the same scene yet we all saw something different. Me, being an african american male in america, saw the Assassination of the future and the murder of dreams. JFK, then Malcolm X, and then Martin L. King, in that exact order. I heard about JFK on the radio, read about Martin in the Headlines, and saw Malcolm dead on the floor in a Magazine. Each one damaged my faith in this country more and more.

The direction that this country is headed towards is violent. One can blatantly see the rift between the government and people. Before one knows it, solders will be keeping children in line. I can see it now, a young woman screaming over the death of a friend shot during the chaos that this decade has stirred up. A body lying face down with spectators looking on such an American tragedy.

19 year old African-American in the year 1969:

For the last decade it has been chaotic for the African American community. First the civil rights movement caused struggle and hardship for everyone. Then in 1967 riots started to break out in the urban communities, such as Detroit, Plainfield, and Newark because of the governments lack of support. Then after I thought things couldn't get any worse, our fearless leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and all hope seemed to be lost. I thought that was rock bottom, but today in the mail I received a draft card. Why would i want to fight in this pointless war, when their is so much going on in the states? So, I made plans this afternoon and lets just say my draft card will be in ashes by the end of it all.

By: Amanda and Jessica

Then i was reminded of another sad moment in recent history. I remembered the words that Lyndon Johnson said just after JFK died "this is a sad time for all people…"

Story by Paige Wayman & Mecca Sharrieff.

Michelle & Natalee Massachusetts, African American 12 year old girl

After listening to the radio my mother bursted into tears filled with anger and sadness. Martin Luther King, some man of the civil rights movement, he was a big leader but i don't understand exactly why. My momma's friends and her say that white people discriminated against us. Just some years ago our president JFK was killed and you cannot get past hearing it on the news as well as showing up on the daily news paper after some years ago. My mom just shakes her head in despair. As she shook her head she held a photo in her hand of her and Martin Luther King marching together and remark "America was suppose to be of freedom not of death."

Massachusetts, African American 12 year old girl

After listening to the radio my mother bursted into tears filled with anger and sadness. Martin Luther King, some man of the civil rights movement, he was a big leader but i don't understand exactly why. My momma's friends and her say that white people discriminated against us. Just some years ago our president JFK was killed and you cannot get past hearing it on the news as well as showing up on the daily news paper after some years ago. My mom just shakes her head in despair. As she shook her head she held a photo in her hand of her and Martin Luther King marching together and remark "America was suppose to be of freedom not of death."

Morgan & Jakobi Day 45.

I just took part in my first battle. I realized how much I'm not ready for this environment. I belong at home with my wife and children, a black man doesn't belong in an American war. They killed off MLK , JFK and Malcolm X. Some of the most influential people of our time, they don't care about me about us. I know that for a fact. My mother just sent me a news paper article from author William King "Our Men In Vietnam" which discussed African American men in the war. Basically, why I don't belong here. Why they should send me home. This doesn't help anything, I simply just want to get out of here. They always put me on the front lines, they expect me to die so they can save their "All American soldiers".

Prisilla & Sierra

(Bryan is a middle class african american teenager from Tennessee) One day Bryan was home watching a Beatles concert on the new TV that his father had just purchased. However, the program was interrupted because of a news cast. The anchorman began to make an announcement about notes that have been discovered pertaining the Cuban missile crisis straight from JFK himself. Bryan was surprised at the news. He has never even heard of the cuban missile crisis before this announcement! There had been too much going on in his area pertaining to race.

In my 98 years of livin’ I’se never seen such tragedies. Everybody’s dying - I’m surprised my eyes havin’ rolled to the backs of my head - I never imagined outliving MLK - Never thought I’se see the day, Assassins gone get me next. Open fire during a march on Selma, Bet they’ll tear gas my lips shriveled Wear my heels to the seams It just seems like everybody’s killing our dreams. Malcom’s X just exited It tis’ the time of mourning And every morning’s a new nightmare JFK wasn’t supposed to die that way. These walls ain’t supposed to lie this day Whisper their black secrets and slither our throats I’m 98 years old, and still without hope Slice my veins, change ain’t never came I wanna blame these walls, Soot soiled my overalls, And overall these applause is supposed to be God Supposedly God is good But what good lies in ‘68 Just eight years of hose watered holy water Floodin’ our bibles with delusion Can’t we see, We’re the next victims? The next casket cemented under the government And our swiss cheese is still holey Mouse feed us these lies Trap us once set free Why is this decade such a tragedy?

Hello, my name is Marcus Kowalski, and the date is November 5th, 1960. I’m an 18 year old US citizen, and I live a fairly out of the ordinary life. It began when my Polish born father Adam Kowalski, immigrated to America, and fell in love with my US born African-American mother, Christina Wallace. And thus, I was born a mixed Polish / African-American citizen. But being born mixed in this time comes with a lot of flaws. I feel different. It’s no secret that African-Americans have almost no rights in society. So already I feel distant from my other white friends. On the news I see Dr. Martin Luther King fighting for the rights of African-Americans. So I begin to think to myself, “This must be who I am.” But then there’s also another large factor which separates me from everyone else. Just a few months ago I saw a campaign ad supporting John Kennedy for presidency. And within the ad, they emphasized his deep, blue, white American eyes. The exact same eyes I have inherited from my Polish father.

On March 4 1945 I was born on a hot hot summer day in Jackson Mississippi. My name is Steve Bubbles but people just call me bubbles. My childhood was filled with terror. My older brother was arrested 1955 during a protest and my best friend Emmit Till was killed by a bunch of racist white people. I decided I had enough of Mississippi ,so in 1963 I left Mississippi to go to college at University of Dallas in Texas. On Nov. 22 me and my bros went to Dealey Plaza to to see President Kennedy.

Tenzin Ngawang & Sasha Sapp

March 1968,

It’s almost unbelievable…everything that we’ve been through. When I say “us” I mean those us of who have been fighting for the rights of everyone. But…. going from here seems a bit bleak. So many deaths… I ask myself “Who will be next?”. We’ve lost Martin Luther King…we’ve lost Malcom X. Within in such a short period of time! I remember the Detroit Freedom March. I was there. I was surrounded by the passionate shouts for freedom and equality. The crowd chanted and boycotted for change! I still remember hearing the announcement that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was created. How much of a change it brought. This movement is growing. I don’t want it to end. If it was to end, end it well. We need the leaders, the brave men and women to speak for our kind.

I am louis from the time of 1960's, the age of development and horrible events. My parents always used to tell me the education before 60's. At that time it was becoming very developed and educational institutes were becoming more educational. College campuses were becoming the centers of debates. Students started struggle which played role in the vietnam. I remember, many problems were solved in the many books. Many Americans including me, started experiencing new sense of economic advancement. I studied a lot of literatures which reflected political events.

Danny and Ruben
It was a dark gloomy day. The birds brought no joy to Mr. Johnson as he sat in his office admiring all of the accomplishments his predecessor had achieved. Johnson felt as though the task ahead of him was going to be impossible. How was he supposed to live up to the accomplishments of JFK. A speech explaining to the country that JFK had died, was the biggest of tasks Johnson had done. A mere pillow based fort compared to the massive empire that JFK was able to establish. Just then he came across an old yellowed piece of parchment, with a list of JFK’s academic record and gave a short chuckle as he was only a Texas University man, where as JFK was a Harvard man. Just another accomplishment that made Johnson feel insignificant. As John went over more of Kennedy’s work, he came across an old newspaper that was stored away in a drawer. There was an article that had attempted to shame Kennedy’s name. It had explained how Kennedy was stealing taxpayers money. The idea of thinking that Kennedy could have done something that wasn’t “great” brought shock to Johnson. It also brought a bit of relief to him, making him feel like even with his own flaws, he could still run as a good president.

Bee and Sabrina Everything is falling apart. What used to be a safe nation is now one filed with fear and speculation of corruption in our government. No one knows who to believe anymore. Everyone is fighting for their own cause, but no one is listening anymore; not the citizens and certainly not our government. Robert Kennedy has been assassinated. It makes me remember when his brother, JFK, was killed. No one forgot where they were at that time. It seems to see that their father's greed for power has forsaken his family. It's a tragedy. Citizens are devastated and more on edge than we were in the war. So many influential figures, gone. Years ago after JFK passed, Johnson delivered a speech to Congress. He promised the citizens safety and security, but it was an empty promise. No one feels safe anymore and the government isn't supplying us with any form of comfort. Young Robert Kennedy was always a strong figure, like his siblings. He was always putting The People's needs ahead of his own and power wasn't even his main concern. Peace and equality were what he aimed for before anything, but too many battles were being fought at once. Such a tragedy, it is.

Ryan & Stephen

Why? America has reached its boiling point. We as American people are a mere shadow of what we used to be. All the newspaper headlines are death after death. First, Kennedy, then Martin Luther King, and now Robert Kennedy. What are we doing with our lives!? We are no longer together as a society; we are constantly at arms with one another. How are we ever to evolve as a nation if we keep killing each other? This extends farther into everyday life. There’s constant gang violence throughout America. I ask again, what are we doing?

Alex

Living in the 60s was like seein a shitstorm right before your eyes. First JFK, then Malcolm X, and finally MLKJ. Then next thing ya know, Kent State was shot up like nobody's business. I've never seen crazier times in my life. God bless those Kennedy boys, we all know god need to be with them.

Brianna P and Candace B

Mourning of the Greats

Our history teacher told us to make up a story using our primary source documents. She said put yourself in their shoes and make it present time. So I go to lunch wondering I want to do. Rushing to lunch and balancing all my stuff, I fall down the steps and got a concussion. It felt like hours passed before I wake up. But when I woke up, I wasn't in school. I don't even know where I was. Was this even Philadelphia anymore? There's City Hall and protestors everywhere. What is going on!?! My Abercrombie shirt and and Aeropostle pants got switched with these ugly high waters and baggy shirt. Where's my bra!?!?!? All of this is… new. I have never seen this people a day in my life. Where are my parents??? My friends?! Who is that man giving a speech?

Samuel & Winstinho There was an angry man named Bob Johnson Finaginn the III from god ole' Austin, Texas. A conservative, Christian, Jesus Lovin' cowboy that harnessed hatred for our dear president JFK.

"I wasn't happy the day he came,but I knew he was our president and we had to be happy for him. The whole town came out to celebrate, this man from the north. Honestly, it was tragedy, what happened in front of all those people. Our country was exploding with civil unrest from the negro folk."

"I remember seeing the picture of vice president Johnson being sworn in. It was on every news stand for days."

"I remember hearing on the tele' " I ask gods help— and yours."