Takin' it to the streets: A Sixties Reader

by Alexander Bloom

The fourth edition of Takin' it to the streets revises the comprehensive collection of primary documents from the 1960s that has become the leading reader about the era. Adopted nationwide, this anthology brings together representative writings, many of which had been unavailable for years or had 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, Robert Kennedy, 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. The book focuses on civil rights, Black Power, the counterculture, the women's movement, anti-war activity, gay and lesbian struggles, and the conservative current that ran counter to more typical sixties movements. These include both topics that fell outside the daily attention of the media and those that made front-page news. Covering an extremely popular period of history, Takin' it to the streets remains the most accessible and authoritative reader of an extraordinary decade, one unlike any America had seen before or has experienced since.

New to This Edition

* A new section on John F. Kennedy, including Norman Mailer's 1960 assessment of JFK
* New selections on Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and the Underground Press
* A new chapter of assessments and on the legacy of the 1960s, including articles by Howard Zinn, Fred Barnes, Arthur Schlesinger, and Michael Kazin

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

576 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 1995

Reviews

[Luke Sayese · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely essential reader for any student of the Sixties!

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Evan Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

love it! particularly about the feminist movements in that era

[Ellie]

for class

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of texts from the 1960s.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice compilation of 60s essays and writings!!!