Civil Rights and Fashion in the 60’s
The sixties was a prominent time in American history because of the civil rights movement and political activity. However, the time period did not just affect the society in political and cultural ways; it influenced fashion, especially of African Americans. Early in the decade, African American men could be seen wearing a “conk,” a hairstyle using a chemical relaxer to straighten hair. These were popular because they had the mindset of being inferior to white men. Therefore, looking like the upper class boosted their self-esteem. But with the growing black power movement, male African Americans no longer felt the need to be like whites. They returned back to their natural hairstyle, a trademark, the “afro.” Having this showed pride in their heritage. They began to “embrace their ethnicity and . . . not feel socially forced to copy white hair.” Soon enough, the whites began to imitate the hairstyle.
Appearance through attire also took a new route. Denim jeans became popular during the sixties. They were first considered chore clothes, used when doing yard work. Eventually, they symbolized protest against the establishment. They were designed to portray messages, such as: “make love, not war” and, more fittingly, “black power.” Through this, “fashion truly became a means of visual communication.” Women, like in the Roaring Twenties, began modeling shorter skirts, or “miniskirts,” revealing more of their legs. Similar to the illustrated jeans, they were a symbol of rebellion. The ladies felt that the typical clothes were not flattering and old-fashioned, sheltering them. A piece of clothing that displayed more of their culture was a dashiki, a loose, brightly colored shirt or tunic, “made of the African American textile known as Kente cloth.” This explosion of heritage embracement marks another aspect of the revolution in American society during the Civil Rights Era, aside from fighting for justice.
As much as going back to tradition was a sign of rebellion for African Americans, to me, when whites began to mimic their fashion sense, it was their need to have all that the blacks had. They were so absorbed in being superior to them. As blacks started to accept themselves and how their culture was, whites almost became insecure. They probably thought that, if a certain style fitted African Americans, they could too - and better. Psychologically, being human, perhaps they wanted to fit in also and be a part of that new idea, be new and fresh. Like how in today's fashion world, the popular trend is returning to Aztec [geometric] patterns. This is not new, as in never before, but it is new, meaning different from what is - or should I say, what was. Even though people are not just now discovering this style, they are beginning to wear it more often because it is what is "in," desiring to be a part of the "in-crowd."
Appearance through attire also took a new route. Denim jeans became popular during the sixties. They were first considered chore clothes, used when doing yard work. Eventually, they symbolized protest against the establishment. They were designed to portray messages, such as: “make love, not war” and, more fittingly, “black power.” Through this, “fashion truly became a means of visual communication.” Women, like in the Roaring Twenties, began modeling shorter skirts, or “miniskirts,” revealing more of their legs. Similar to the illustrated jeans, they were a symbol of rebellion. The ladies felt that the typical clothes were not flattering and old-fashioned, sheltering them. A piece of clothing that displayed more of their culture was a dashiki, a loose, brightly colored shirt or tunic, “made of the African American textile known as Kente cloth.” This explosion of heritage embracement marks another aspect of the revolution in American society during the Civil Rights Era, aside from fighting for justice.
As much as going back to tradition was a sign of rebellion for African Americans, to me, when whites began to mimic their fashion sense, it was their need to have all that the blacks had. They were so absorbed in being superior to them. As blacks started to accept themselves and how their culture was, whites almost became insecure. They probably thought that, if a certain style fitted African Americans, they could too - and better. Psychologically, being human, perhaps they wanted to fit in also and be a part of that new idea, be new and fresh. Like how in today's fashion world, the popular trend is returning to Aztec [geometric] patterns. This is not new, as in never before, but it is new, meaning different from what is - or should I say, what was. Even though people are not just now discovering this style, they are beginning to wear it more often because it is what is "in," desiring to be a part of the "in-crowd."
"Civil Rights and Fashion in the 60's." Civil Rights and Fashion in the 60's. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. <http://www.civilrightsdefence.org.nz/resources/fashion.html>.