Bonnie Raitt and the Boom Generation - Essay Example

Bonnie Raitt and the Boom Generation Around “75 millions Americans born between 1946 and 1964” are called the baby boom generation (Boaz, 3). The life experiences of all the baby boomers had some thing in common which can be summed up as, “government fought a very unpopular war, a president resigned in disgrace, and government economic planning led to inflation, unemployment and stagflation” (Boaz, 3). This generation was more skeptical than their parents; they were more “fiscally conservative and socially liberal” than the previous generation (Boaz, 3).

They demanded and end to Vietnam war, and their ‘new values’ included, “self-actualization, quality, opportunity, tolerance and social conscience, as well as a hostility to bigness in government, business and other institutions” (Boaz, 4,6). Some sociologists have also attributed individualism as a common trait to baby boomers (Boaz, 11). Another interesting fact is that 35% of baby boomers have been divorced (Schlesinger) Bonnie Raitt was a baby boomer and her life cycle almost followed the common life pattern of baby boomers.

She has been involved with environmental movement, movement against nuclear weapons, Native American movement, women’s and human rights movements (Bonnieraitt.com). All these movements have been in some way or other anti-establishment and such political feelings have been typical for the baby boomer generation. Bonnu Raitt was born as the daughter of Broadway singer, John Raitt and she grew up in Los Angeles in an ambience of “respect for the arts, Quaker traditions, and a commitment to social activism” (Bonnieraitt.com). Towards the end of sixties, she went to study in Cambridge, was very much involved with the socio-political activities happening there, and was part of the anti-war movement as a majority of baby boomers were (Bonnieraitt.com). In her musical career, she started with folk music and blues.

But whenever she could spare time, she performed for social causes “campaigning to stop the war in Central America; participating in the Sun City anti-apartheid project; (and) performing at the historic 1980 No Nukes concerts at Madison Square Garden” (Bonnieraitt.com). In personal life, Bonnie Raitt has been divorced as many of the baby boomers. In this way, if we trace the life history of Bonnie Raitt, the reflection of the socio-historical context is distinctly seen. She had assimilated all the new values of boom generation.

She has made her music a tool of social change and ideological expression. Her personal life has also been influenced by the common mood of boom generation. Works Cited Boaz, David, “Left, right & babyboom: America's new politics”, Washington DC: Cato Institute, 1986.Print. Bonnieraitt.com, “Biography”, n.d. web. 17 March 2011, http://www.bonnieraitt.com/bio.php Schlesinger, Richard, “Why are So Many Baby Boomers Divorced?”, CBS Evening News, 14 December 2010.web.17 March 2011, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/14/eveningnews/main7150115.shtml