In 2015, the LGBT community in America sits on the edge of its collective seat, much like the African-American community in 1967 with the much-anticipating ruling of the Loving Case. Today, we await a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of same-sex marriage. How did we get here when only 50 years ago, interracial marriage was illegal? The answer may be in a bar in Greenwich Village.
On...
Tensions heightened between the New York City Police Department (NYCPD) and large numbers of gay, transgender, and other sexual minorities during the hot summer of 1969. Raids on gay bars, such as the Stonewall Inn, became frequent, due to laws against serving alcohol to gay people. In the early hours of June 28, the NYCPD conducted a raid on the Stonewall Inn, arresting several cross-dressing people...
On July 16, 1969, Americans Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins sat atop a Saturn V rocket and were blasted away from the surface of the Earth on a journey across 300,000 kilometers to land and walk on the Moon. The choice of which astronaut would step on the lunar surface first came almost by chance- because Armstrong was the Commander of the flight, his seat...
Neil Armstrong gained world-wide fame as he stepped off of the Apollo 11’s lunar module and became the first human to set foot on the moon. Completing the awe-inspiring moment he said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Earlier that day, Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the Eagle lunar module pilot, had undocked from the command...
Rashes, eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, double vision, dizziness, skin irritation, loss of fingernails, nervousness, diarrhea, amongst a slue of other dangerous side effects are all results of chemical poisoning. Cesar Chavez, a former migrant farm worker and member of the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, took into account all of these illnesses when he was testifying...
Four businessmen: Artie Kornfield, Michael Lang, John Roberts and Joel Rosenman, were determined to produce a flourishing enterprise focused on music in New York State. The four attempted to rent land close to the town of Woodstock in hopes of establishing a location for their concert.
However, to many local citizens the musical scene of the late 1960s was controversial in the wake of anti-war...
On August 20, 1969, Robert “Rocky” Bleier landed at LZ Siberia with Company C, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, to rescue Company B, who were pinned down by heavy gunfire during a weapons sweep. As Bleier carried the last dead body out of the area, a machine gun opened fire and every soldier dropped and held their...
As Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones took the stage at Altamont Speedway the atmosphere was already intense. While the sun went down the Rolling Stones began their fateful set at a concert that was the culmination of their 1969 US tour, and by far the most violent. What promoters had advertised as a free concert for one and all featuring the immensely popular Rolling Stones, quickly degenerated...
For many Detroiters New Years Eve is an event in which the stresses of the past year can be relieved in a night of hedonistic fun or relaxation, with many Techno parties and other social events throughout the city. But for Detroiters who are shy of the partying age, NYE still marks an especially fun day with the annual New Year's Eve Family Fun Run. The Run has been a highlight on the...
Adam Mims
Dr. Benson
History 321-Urban America
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: Still Movin' and Groovin'
In the beginning of 1970, the city of New Orleans and the music industry as a whole would be drastically changed in a way that would bolster its prominence like no other. This change would soon come to existence as being called the...