Smart Girl Fakes Being Dumb To Fit In
This is a clip from one of almost 200 interviews that I conducted in 1989 for my six part television series, Making Sense Of The Sixties. You can see other interviews from the series on my YouTube channel.
During the 1950s and early 1960s, the era this woman is referring to, "communism" was a big deal and it was talk to us in elementary school and in middle school.
Communism is a political and economic ideology that aims for a classless, stateless society where all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is compensated according to their abilities and needs. It is based on the ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who believed that capitalism inevitably leads to class struggles and that a revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system would lead to a more equitable society. Communism advocates for the elimination of private property, the establishment of a centrally planned economy, and the collective ownership of the means of production (factories, land, etc.).
In the 1950s, communism was heavily associated with the Soviet Union, which had established itself as a global superpower after World War II. The 1950s were marked by the early years of the Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the capitalist West, led by the United States, and the communist East, led by the Soviet Union. Communism was seen as a direct threat to the Western way of life and democratic values.
In the U.S., communism was associated with subversion and espionage. The Red Scare, a period of intense fear of communism, was fueled by McCarthyism, where Senator Joseph McCarthy led investigations and hearings to root out alleged communists within the U.S. government, entertainment industry, and other sectors. Communism was often portrayed as an evil, anti-American ideology that sought to undermine freedom and democracy.
Communism was seen as a monolithic and uniform threat. The distinctions between different communist ideologies or movements (e.g., Soviet-style communism vs. Maoist communism) were often overlooked, and communism was presented as a single, cohesive enemy.
In the 1950s, the education system, influenced by Cold War propaganda, portrayed communism as an anti-American, totalitarian ideology that was inherently evil and threatening. Textbooks emphasized the dangers of communism, often equating it with a lack of freedom and democratic rights. The curriculum focused on the ideological and moral superiority of capitalism and democracy.
The teaching often involved a strong element of fear, suggesting that communists were actively trying to infiltrate and undermine American society. This fear was reinforced by the broader societal context of McCarthyism and the Red Scare.
In the 1960s, the perception and meaning of communism began to change. The ‘60s saw the decolonization of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where new nations emerged from colonial rule. Many of these countries, influenced by Marxist ideas, adopted socialist or communist ideologies as part of their development strategies. This led to the spread of different forms of communism beyond the Soviet Union and China, each adapted to local contexts.
A significant ideological rift occurred between the Soviet Union and China in the 1960s, known as the Sino-Soviet split. This division highlighted that communism was not a monolithic ideology but rather had different interpretations and factions. The split also led to a more nuanced understanding of communism, as it was evident that even communist countries could have significant ideological and political disagreements.
The 1960s were a time of significant social and political upheaval in the West, including the civil rights movement, anti-Vietnam War protests, and countercultural movements. Some of these movements were influenced by Marxist or socialist ideas, challenging the rigid anti-communist stance of the 1950s and leading to a more critical view of both capitalism and communism.
Today communism as a political ideology has lost much of its influence and power. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, communism as a global political force diminished significantly. However, it remains the official ideology in a few countries, such as China (although heavily modified and integrated with capitalist market practices), Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and North Korea. The teaching of communism has shifted from a fear-based, propaganda-laden approach in the 1950s to a more balanced, critical, and nuanced exploration today. The changes reflect broader societal shifts towards greater openness, critical analysis, and understanding of global historical contexts.
Communism is mostly discussed in academic and political circles as part of the broader debate on economic inequality, social justice, and alternative economic systems. While traditional Marxist-Leninist communism is discredited, aspects of Marxist critique of capitalism are still influential in social and economic thought.