Starting Over 1970s Social Movements

During the 1970s, there was a general feeling of discomfort because of stagflation. Stagflation is high unemployment and high inflation. The feeling of the 60s in the younger generation to start social movements and cause change died down. This generation is often called the "me" generation for this reason. Many people found themselves going their own ways and were no longer interested in working to change society. Divorce rates went up because people started pursuing different paths. People had gotten tired of the idea of the “American Dream” and worked to pursue their own dreams. Despite peoples newly found disinterest in social reform, the ideas of a more equal society did not disappear. In Boston, it was ordered the schools be integrated. Minorities were being sent on buses to primarily white schools while white people were sent to minority schools. This made many people upset and caused them to blame African American individuals.  Cops had to escort students in to school and people protested. The gay rights movement also continued into the 70s. The murders of Milk, a gay man in city government, and Moscone, a pro gay rights leader, caused an uproar.  Forty thousand people came out the streets of San Francisco to mourn their loss. White, the man who murdered them, only got 7 ⅔ years in prison and San Franciscans saw it as a tragedy in the justice system. However, the event gave hope for a future in the gay rights movement.