Photos Showing What the Groovy Era Was Really Like

The ’60s and ’70s were arguably the most important time for the 20th century. These decades marked the world’s transition into the modern era. We often associate the era with great music, social unrest, and some questionable fashion choices.

For this list, we’re taking a closer look at the so-called “groovy” era. From the different movements and seminal events to the quirky little moments and trends in between, these photos give us a better perspective of what life was like during the decades.

The construction of the Berlin Wall

In the post-world war era, the Berlin Wall would separate Germany for nearly 30 years. Berlin, at the time, was divided ideologically and physically. This concrete barrier’s official purpose was to keep Western “fascists” out of Socialist Germany.

Spanning almost 27 miles long and heavily guarded with 55,000 landmines and barbed wire, the Berlin Wall ultimately became an ugly remnant of the Cold War. The wall began construction in 1961 and was torn down back in 1989 after a series of protests.

MLK’s signature moment

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. Delivered in August 1963 during the March on Washington rally, King’s speech talked of equality and freedom during the height of the civil rights movement.

It became a defining moment of the decade—one that has been carefully dissected by the generations of Americans who followed. The speech became instrumental in the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, shaping our views on race relations and democracy.

Demonstrators during the March on Washington

Officially called “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,” the August 28th, 1963 gathering was first met with concern. President John F. Kennedy even met with civil rights leaders before the march, letting them know his fears about the likelihood of the event ending in violence.

Kennedy had deemed it “ill-timed.” Nevertheless, the march happened. They had the momentum of the earlier Birmingham, Alabama mass protests by their side. More than 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial. There were also about 3,000 members of the press present.

America’s great civil rights champions and the Lincoln monument

Here we have one of the signature moments captured during the March on Washington. It features legendary civil rights leaders, John Lewis, Walter Reuther, Cleveland Robinson, Roy Wilkins, and of course, Dr. King, among others.

They stood in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln as an instrument of solidarity. Thousands of other protesters gathered to show support for racial and economic equality, as well as the civil rights legislation that was still pending in Congress during 1963.

They paved the way for post-segregation America.