John Lennon's Influence on the Anti-Vietnam War Movement

History 100 / Sec. 016

In-Class Essay #1

Music is a great tool for expressing and communicating one’s thoughts and ideas. It has the power to unite people through lyrics and harmony. Musician John Lennon had achieved an international celebrity status with his work with The Beatles, and through his music he preached his thoughts of peace and civility. Lennon gave many people a voice to align themselves with, as well as motivation to stand up and participate in the already prominent anti-Vietnam War movement.

According to author Anthony Elliott, “Individuals reflexively draw on mediated symbolic forms—such as images of celebrity—in order to fashion their day-to-day lives, their conceptions of their own selves, understandings of others, and their broader relation to the social and political world” (835). Many antiwar individuals aligned themselves with the thoughts and beliefs heard through Lennon’s music.

There were many political groups which emerged in support of the antiwar movement. Such groups were: The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Women Strike for Peace (WSP), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam (NCC) (Hall, 13-14). People all over the country were uniting together to promote the same message as Lennon’s music; stop the violence and live in peace.

As reported by Bill Harry, author of the John Lennon Encyclopedia, “Lennon’s work fighting for peace and an end to the Vietnam War struck a chord with a whole generation” (AP). When Lennon released his song titled “Give Peace a Chance” in 1969 it immediately became an anthem for antiwar protestors. On October 15, 1969, more than one million antiwar activists participated in the first Moratorium. It was the “most diverse and pervasive protest of the entire war” (Hall, 15). “Citizens conducted vigils, distributed literature, attended religious services or discussion groups, showed films, held public readings of the...