Photo credit: WALLY MCNAMEE_CORBIS_GETTY IMAGES
Born in the early 70’s to hippie parents, I have learned a thing or two about hippies and the hippie movement. My name is April, and I used to joke and say that I was grateful that I wasn’t named “Free” or “Flower” or anything really out there. Maybe some of the really far-out hippies came up with those types of names while experimenting with the psychedelics of the times?
April means spring, new life and new beginnings, which is what my mother tried to pass on to me, most notably when it comes to women’s rights and civil rights. She was an activist for peace and change. She believed that we all deserved a voice and a choice in this country, and she was the most prominent patriot I have ever known.
She had many women friends who all had babies during the same years, and we spent a lot of time with them going to spontaneous, free concerts in Hines Park near our home, having picnics in Bell Isle, playing outside at playgrounds and pools, or camping in the woods in up north Michigan.
The hippie movement was a countercultural movement that began in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a reaction to the strict social standards of the 1950s, and they rejected mainstream American life. Hippies were often associated with the following:
- The biggest one…they opposed the Vietnam War
- They preached and practiced nonviolence and love
- They taught their children (me) about openness, tolerance and inclusion
- Yes, they did use and experiment a lot with recreational hallucinogenic drugs
- The music of the times was psychedelic, folk, and anti-establishment rock and roll
- The sexual revolution was more than just free sex. It was about women making choices for themselves, their bodies, and their sexuality.
- And yes, they were very earth-friendly, tree-hugging, eco-conscious lifestyle-living kind of folks.
- Alienation from middle-class society
Most of my mother’s hippie friends were very into nature and Native American customs as well. From what I can remember, we had a lot of fun together. Until my mom’s closest friend moved out west to help with the reforestation that had been a result of the historical wildfires in Oregon, another friend moved to San Francisco, another to Idaho, and her best friend cousin moved to California. They broke up the band, so to speak, because we stayed in Michigan, and they all moved out west.
According to the Oregon Historical Society, “In 1968, Newsweek reported an imminent threat of twenty thousand hippies descending on Portland, Oregon. Although the numbers were exaggerated, Portland did boast a vibrant 1960s culture of disenchanted and disenfranchised individuals seeking social and political revolution. Barefoot and bell-bottomed, they hung out in Portland’s bohemian underground and devised a better world,”.
My mother’s closest friend, being concerned about helping with the reforestation movement happening in Oregon at the time, moved very close to the project. Apparently, a lot of young people from northwest Oregon started helping by hand-planting seedlings, and between 1949 and 1972, they planted over one million seedlings.
Wikipedia notes the following regarding the Tillamook Burn, “The repeated fires led some to think that large wildfires in the area were inevitable and that the land was now too damaged from the intense heat to ever again sustain forests. But determined efforts by Oregonians—private citizens, government officials, land owners and many others—resulted in efforts to restore The Burn,”.
They went on to note that, “The Tillamook Burn was a series of forest fires in the Northern Oregon Coast Range of Oregon in the United States that destroyed a total area of 350,000 acres (140,000 hectares) of old growth timber in what is now known as the Tillamook State Forest,”.
What caused the 1960s counterculture?
Arguably, the Vietnam War and the national divide between the supporters and opponents were instrumental in the rise of the movement.
According to an article on The Collector, “The counterculture movement rejected most things that were praised by the government. This included consumerism. The hippie-style clothing worn was often hand-me-downs bought at flea markets, yard sales, or second-hand shops. This was a purposeful effort to avoid buying from major brand-name stores and contributing to mainstream consumerist habits. Most of the counterculture movement youths were children of the middle and upper-middle class. They opposed everything that the previous decades were all about: wartime support, materialism, and work,”.
Reflecting on the changes and the waves of influence from the Hippie Movement, it’s fascinating to see how the movement’s ethos shaped societal values and norms. Many people today still live by some of the principles introduced by the hippies, such as sustainable, eco-friendly living, and there’s a continued appreciation for various art forms that flourished during that era, including music, fashion, and literature.
How the hippie movement changed America
Our family life, in many ways, was a microcosm of the more significant movement. We embraced vegetarianism long before it became mainstream, which was part of the broader “live and let live” philosophy. My mom always emphasized the importance of being in harmony with nature and not taking more than you need. “Take only pictures; leave only footprints.”
This respect for the ecosystem was perhaps one of the most enduring legacies of the hippie movement. Recycling, composting, and reducing waste are everyday practices for us.
Moreover, the influence of Eastern philosophies and religions cannot be overstated. Many hippies turned to Buddhism, Hinduism, and other Eastern traditions during their search for spiritual enlightenment beyond the conventional Western religious framework. This exploration fostered a culture of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, which has left a lasting positive impact on mainstream health and well-being practices today.
Educationally, my upbringing in the hippie movement also differed significantly from the traditional norms. My mom and her friends valued experiential learning and critical thinking, often choosing alternative schooling paths such as Montessori schools or homeschooling. They believed education should cultivate creativity and independent thought rather than mere rote learning. This approach instilled a love for lifelong learning and a curiosity about the world that I carry with me to this day.
The community was another cornerstone of the hippie era. A strong sense of communal living and shared resources marked my childhood. We often shared meals, clothing, and even living spaces with other families. The idea was to create a support system that extended beyond traditional family boundaries, fostering a sense of unity and mutual assistance. It definitely influenced how I approach relationships and community involvement, always striving to foster inclusive and supportive environments. I think everyone from my family or our friends group lived with my mom and I at some point!
My upbringing within this movement provided me with a unique lens through which to view the world—one that values peace, love, sustainability, and community above all else.
What is the hippie movement?
In many ways, the spirit of the hippie movement lives on. Whether it’s through the ongoing fight for social justice, the push for environmental conservation, or the widespread acceptance of holistic health practices, the seeds sown during that colorful era continue to blossom. As we face new challenges in today’s world, I often reflect on the lessons from my upbringing and find solace and inspiration in the enduring hippie ethos of transforming the world through compassion, creativity, and collective action.