Abbie hoffman
Biography
-Born on November 30, 1936, died on April 12, 1989
-His activist career began in the early 1960s, where he did some civil rights work for the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee
-In 1966, Hoffman started using drugs and got involved with counterculture politics
-Co-founded the Youth International Party (known as the "Yippies"), which was an unofficial political party
-On August 24, 1967, Hoffman lead a group of activists into New York Stock Exchange to protest capitalism and the Vietnam War. They threw fistfuls of fake dollars on the floor, tricking the traders into scrambling for the money and causing a ruckus in the exchange
-At the October March on Washington, Hoffman was in charge of a group trying to levitate the Pentagon
-In 1968, Hoffman is one of the "Chicago Seven" student activists accused of inciting riots at the Democratic National Convention
-In the early 1970s, Hoffman gains acclaim as a radical journalist and author. One of his most famous books of the era was Steal This Book.
-Hoffman was charged with cocaine possession in 1974. Desperate to avoid trial, he got plastic surgery done and goes underground as "Barry Freed". He then surrendered to authorities in 1980, and was released in 1982 and resumed life in political activism.
-On April 12, 1989, Abbie Hoffman was found dead in his apartment. His death was ruled as a suicide.
-His activist career began in the early 1960s, where he did some civil rights work for the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee
-In 1966, Hoffman started using drugs and got involved with counterculture politics
-Co-founded the Youth International Party (known as the "Yippies"), which was an unofficial political party
-On August 24, 1967, Hoffman lead a group of activists into New York Stock Exchange to protest capitalism and the Vietnam War. They threw fistfuls of fake dollars on the floor, tricking the traders into scrambling for the money and causing a ruckus in the exchange
-At the October March on Washington, Hoffman was in charge of a group trying to levitate the Pentagon
-In 1968, Hoffman is one of the "Chicago Seven" student activists accused of inciting riots at the Democratic National Convention
-In the early 1970s, Hoffman gains acclaim as a radical journalist and author. One of his most famous books of the era was Steal This Book.
-Hoffman was charged with cocaine possession in 1974. Desperate to avoid trial, he got plastic surgery done and goes underground as "Barry Freed". He then surrendered to authorities in 1980, and was released in 1982 and resumed life in political activism.
-On April 12, 1989, Abbie Hoffman was found dead in his apartment. His death was ruled as a suicide.
pictures of abbie
primary source:
"reflections on student activism"
The primary source I used for Abbie Hoffman is his speech called "Reflections on Student Activism", which was addressed in the first National Student Convention at Rutgers University on February 6, 1988. This speech was directed at college students about his hopes for change in America. The speech is motivational and it emphasized to the students of the power they have to change the world. It is important because this was addressed at the first National Student Convention in 1988, which occurred 28 years after the formation of the SDS. He points out how many more students participated in the student activism movement during this year than in 1960, when it began (starting with 30 students, then had 650 students in 1988). This proves how the student activism movement was successful in expressing their goals and appealing to more and more college students over the years. This ultimately lead to the "new age, a new college student" that the SDS was hoping for.
Evaluation
Abbie Hoffman played an important role in the student activism movement. He knew how to motivate American college students through his speeches and political protests, using his charismatic personality and determination. He may not have been the most educated student activist, but he knew how to truly inspire students to want to make a difference in the world. His words left an impact on anyone who listened to his philosophies. I believe Abbie Hoffman effectively opened the minds of students and encouraged them to break the social, political, and educational limits that were embedded into their lives.
works cited
"57g. Student Activism."
Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia, n.d. Web.
03 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.ushistory.org/us/57g.asp>.
"Reflections on Student
Activism." Spunk.org. The Etext Archives, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.spunk.org/texts/writers/misc/sp000190.txt>.
"Abbott (Abbie) Hoffman."
PBS.org. PBS, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.pbs.org/opb/thesixties/topics/revolution/newsmakers_2.html>.
Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia, n.d. Web.
03 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.ushistory.org/us/57g.asp>.
"Reflections on Student
Activism." Spunk.org. The Etext Archives, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.spunk.org/texts/writers/misc/sp000190.txt>.
"Abbott (Abbie) Hoffman."
PBS.org. PBS, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.pbs.org/opb/thesixties/topics/revolution/newsmakers_2.html>.