The Movements of the New Left, 1950-1975 – Essential Documents Part 2

Send us Fan MailThis video/podcast is my conclusion of the analysis and examination of the 45 documents from the New Left period particularly focusing on writings and speeches from 1968-1973 the highest point of not just serious thought, but also organized labor power, student movements, a rise in black electoralism, and the anti-war movement. Focusing on the major insights in these books, I also bring to the surface the major questions concerning not just the rights, privileges, and opportunities afforded people which can only be achieved through a struggle (a spirit of that generation which we need to recapture), but also an exaltation of the question of belonging, inclusivity, and acceptance of woman in social life especially a renewed academic focus on poor black woman and what such a consideration would mean for society as a whole both practically and theoretically.            Even with platforms, programs, and public policy proposals, the New Left generation teaches us three things fundamentally which can be extrapolated into many lessons: We must make clear our grievances which lead to demands, a timeline, and a consequence; we must constantly learn through the struggle in order to reevaluate our methodology in education, agitation, and organization; we must try to make visible our needs and desires whether it is electoral reform or applying public pressure to cause legislative changes. For this last point, during the New Left Movements, 1950-1975 the slogan “the whole world was watching” was true for the first time in history. Only under such circumstances can real nonviolent active Civil Disobedience or other forms of strikes and protest can be viable or successful.