Thesis
Surfing defined the counterculture rebelling against the suburbs, which comprised mostly of young adults, in the 1950s and 1960s. Its many influences have caused it to evolve over the years, especially within the past 50 years, so as to eventually lead to what it is now. (Chris)
Surfing Comes to California
During the early 1900's, surfing was already beginning to take root in Southern California due to Duke Kahanamoku. Kahanamoku was a native Hawaiian whose skill for both swimming and surfing helped to about the craze for surfing that was present in Hawaii at the time. Kahanamoku himself did not directly come to California until later to inspire surfing, but another man who lived in Honolulu at the same time did. This man's name was George Freeth. Freeth was a part Hawaiian part Irish man who, along with Kahanamoku, helped with the modern surfing revival in Hawaii. In 1907, there was a story of Freeth paddling out to a tourist who was struggling on his board. This tourist turned out to be none other than famous writer Jack London, who later wrote highly of Freeth and his teaching methods.
This same year Freeth left Honolulu to demonstrate surfing to Southern California. He was so adept at doing so that Henry Huntington hired him to promote people to come to Redondo Beach. Huntington owned a large hotel and swimming pool nearby so by bringing people to Redondo he would be generating business for himself. Freeth held many events up and down the Californian coast to promote surfing. Freeth skills of swimming were so impressive, he is also credited for reinventing the modern day lifeguard as well as bringing the game of water polo to California.
It was during Freeth's promotion of surfing that Kahanamoku himself came to California. He became a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club and along with Freeth helped foster the love for modern surfing in California. It is odd to attribute the success of a sport to few people, but in terms of California, both George Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku were the true pioneers of the surfing culture in California.
This same year Freeth left Honolulu to demonstrate surfing to Southern California. He was so adept at doing so that Henry Huntington hired him to promote people to come to Redondo Beach. Huntington owned a large hotel and swimming pool nearby so by bringing people to Redondo he would be generating business for himself. Freeth held many events up and down the Californian coast to promote surfing. Freeth skills of swimming were so impressive, he is also credited for reinventing the modern day lifeguard as well as bringing the game of water polo to California.
It was during Freeth's promotion of surfing that Kahanamoku himself came to California. He became a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club and along with Freeth helped foster the love for modern surfing in California. It is odd to attribute the success of a sport to few people, but in terms of California, both George Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku were the true pioneers of the surfing culture in California.
Suburbs
Once surfing came to California, it started to get popular around the 1950s. However, before we get to that, we must first introduce it's driving force/origin. While the "suburbs" existed before 1940, its popularity for middle-class society increased after World War II. Returning soldiers wished to achieve the "American Dream," and the homogenous houses built outside of the city, providing a safe space--away from the dealers, prostitutes, and drunks in the inner city--for children and the family, was an attractive lifestyle. Suburban culture involved white families striving to be the ideal image: the money-making father, the stay-at-home mother, and the two innocent, obedient children. Expectations in the suburbs involved the woman doing the cooking, cleaning, child-caring, and teaching her daughter, when old enough, the same things. The man, meanwhile, worked to provide money for the family, fixed any problems, and kept order in the house, and he would one day teach this to his son, as well. Any deviation from this was viewed as suspicious activity, corruption, and/or treason. (Chris & Nissa)
Brief Timeline in the United States (1950s-1960s)
America during the 1950s, after World War II, entered the time of--what historians called--the "booms" in America. The United States became a formidable nation after its involvement in the War, and many soldier came home to America's "booming" economy. And with this economic security and the "boom" of the suburbs, the American Dream felt more tangible than ever. Thus starts the "baby boom," in which millions of children were born every year, parents thinking that there was only peace in their future.
But there was also the Civil Rights Movement of African Americans. The rights of blacks sparked into the news with the Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which led to segregated schools being against the law. And in 1955 was Rosa Parks's arrest for refusing to give her seat to a white citizen, creating more racial tension.
But there was also the Civil Rights Movement of African Americans. The rights of blacks sparked into the news with the Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which led to segregated schools being against the law. And in 1955 was Rosa Parks's arrest for refusing to give her seat to a white citizen, creating more racial tension.
There was also the start of the Vietnam War in 1955, an unpopular war that caused political tension, and a counterculture emerged: the "hippies" in the 1960s. Like surfers, they, too, rejected the restrictions of suburban life as well as opposed the fighting in the world. These pacifists rejected the idea of establishments such as the government telling people what to do, believing they were corrupt and should not be followed. And because they felt middle-class society was repressing, they often dressed, promoted, and acted the opposite of suburban ideals: they wore loose-fitting colorful clothes, advocated for tolerance, and were open about their sexual activity. They often turned to drugs because they believed that it freed them from their prison called the body and allowed them a greater worldview.