Guard Impact

Lore & Background

The term was coined by Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in 1965. It originated in Berkeley, California, as a symbolic action of protest against the Vietnam War. In a November 1965 essay, Ginsberg advocated for protesters to hand out flowers to policemen, press, politicians and spectators. The use of props like flowers, toys, flags, candy and music was meant to turn anti-war rallies into street theater. By late 1966, the method had spread from California to other parts of the United States. In October 1967, the March on the Pentagon used Flower Power concepts; demonstrators held out flowers and placed them in soldiers' rifle barrels. Photographs from that march became iconic images.

Reader's Guide

The movement involved dressing in clothing with embroidered flowers and vibrant colors, wearing flowers in hair, and distributing flowers to the public. Participants became known as flower children. The term later became generalized as a modern reference to the hippie movement and the counterculture of drugs, psychedelic music, psychedelic art, and social permissiveness.

Did You Know?

• A photo from the October 1967 Pentagon march, titled 'Flower Power' by Bernie Boston, was nominated for the 1967 Pulitzer Prize.
• In December 1967, English journalist Peter Fryer defined flower power as 'from Flower Children or Beautiful People. Revolutionary philosophy akin to ideas of Young Liberals, e.g. Make Love Not War.'
• The iconic center of the Flower Power movement was the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco.