Wear Some Armor in Your Hair: Urban Renewal and the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Lincoln Park

In 1968, 7,000 people protested the Vietnam War in Chicago against the Democratic National Convention. Brian Mullgardt's investigation of this event and the preceding tensions shines a light on the grassroots activists who showed up and stood together against the brutality of the police. The North Side Cooperative Ministry played an instrumental role in the protests, which altered community relations and the forces of gentrification won out. Mullgardt's focus on the activists and community members of Lincoln Park broadens the scope of understanding around a pivotal and monumental chapter of our history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2024
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press

In August of 1968, a significant protest against the Vietnam War unfolded in Chicago, with approximately 7,000 people taking to the streets amidst the backdrop of the Democratic National Convention. Initially, the protest began peacefully, but it swiftly descended into a chaotic "police riot." Brian Mullgardt's in-depth investigation into this event and the preceding tensions sheds light on the ministers, Yippies, and community members who united in their opposition to the police brutality witnessed. Wear Some Armor in Your Hair, a captivating book, weaves together a complex tapestry of Chicago history, the 1960s, and urbanization. Rather than focusing on national leaders, it delves into the grassroots activists of that era, providing a fresh perspective on a pivotal and monumental chapter of our history.

The backdrop of 1955 saw the emergence of two competing visions for urban renewal in Chicago. One group, closely associated with city hall, proposed a future Lincoln Park that paid mere lip service to diversity while actually offering very little in terms of inclusivity. On the other hand, the North Side Cooperative Ministry presented a different vision of Lincoln Park that was far more diverse in terms of class and race. When the Yippies announced their anti-war protests for the summer of 1968, the North Side Cooperative Ministry played a crucial role in organizing and supporting the demonstrations.

However, the violence that unfolded during that week significantly altered community relations and ultimately gave way to the forces of gentrification. Mullgardt's focus on the activists and community members of Lincoln Park, situated at the intersection of national trends, broadens our understanding of this pivotal chapter of history. The story of Lincoln Park, Chicago, is in many ways a microcosm of the 1960s activism, offering a unique perspective that challenges us to reevaluate our understanding of national trends.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780809339358