Takin' It to the Streets: A Sixties Reader

by Alexander Bloom (Editor), Wini Breines (Editor)

The second edition of "Takin' it to the streets" revises the comprehensive collection of primary documents of the 1960s that has become the leading reader on the era. Adopted nationwide, this anthology brings together representative writings, many of which have been unavailable for years or
have never been reprinted. Drawn from mainstream sources, little-known sixties periodicals, pamphlets, public speeches, and personal voices, the selections range from the Port Huron Statement and the NOW Bill of Rights to speeches by Malcolm X, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan, to private letters
from civil rights workers and Vietnam soldiers.
Introductions and headnotes by the editors highlight the importance of particular documents, relating them to each other and placing them within the broader context of the decade. Particular attention is paid to civil rights, Black Power, the counterculture, the women's movement, anti-war
activity, and gay and lesbian struggles, as well as the conservative current that ran counter to more typical sixties movements. For this revised edition, the editors have added nearly thirty selections, including new readings on religion, the drug culture, the sexual revolution, gay rights,
conservatism, and the Vietnam War experience. Covering an extremely popular period of history, "Takin' it to the streets" remains the most accessible and authoritative reader on an extraordinary decade, one unlike America had seen before or has experienced since.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Reference, American History, Academic, Education

560 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 1995

Reviews

[Luke Sayese]

Mostly a collection of various primary documents from the 1960s with some commentary. You get a real sense of the radical social and political movements during this time. Once reading all of the primary documents you get two, almost contradictory, conclusions: one, how far we have progressed since the 60s; and two, how some things still remain the same. Were the 60s a success? That's difficult to determine and not an easy answer. All I'm going to say is that change is slow, we can't expect inequality to be eradicated overnight, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try. If anything, what these collection of primary documents has taught me that we just have to keep on fighting and roll with the punches.

[Anne-Marie]

Essential collection of 1960s speeches, letters, and documents.

[Amy]

An absolutely essential reader for any student of the Sixties!

[Kaylee]

It's a great text book, long reading, but I love that it incorporates actual letters and speeches.

[Evan Snyder]

A most excellent reader from a class I took on the sixties. This gets five stars because I really think they did THAT good of a job of collecting a wide range of documents that embodies the decade.

[retnolaras]

love it! particularly about the feminist movements in that era

[Ellie]

for class

[Adam]

so glad that i didn't live in the 60's. so much going on i would not have been able to keep up with the madness. it was really interesting and informative and highlighted almost every movement from the crazy decade

[C.R. Hogan]

had a really good mix of perspectives, painted a full picture of the 1960s and how the times were affecting different members of american society. definitely recommend to anyone interested in history.

[Adria]

Nice collection of texts from the 1960s.

[Alex]

nice compilation of 60s essays and writings!!!