The Summer of Love
In San Francisco, summer of 1967, roughly 100,000 people congregated on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, denoting what would be the central political and social transformation of the Hippie Revolution. San Francisco was the undisputed heart of the social movement, as it became a melting pot of politics, music, drugs, and creativity. The hippie riot was also characterized by the complete lack of social and sexual inhibitions. As concepts like gender equality, communal living, and free love were continuously brought into public awareness, people began questioning everything about themselves and their environment.
The effects of the many social changes proposed during the Summer of Love are seen in the 1970’s and are felt in modern society. The hippies behind the revolution, also known as flower people, were an extensive group, many of which had suspicions about the government and opposed the Vietnam War. Some held concerns over art, including music, painting, and poetry, while others were more focused on religious movements. Only a handful cared for politics. What all of them had in common was their enthusiasm for incorporating fresh ideas and insights into both public and private life.
