In accordance with the 2011 National History Day theme “Debate and Diplomacy:
Successes, Failures, and Consequences”, I chose to do my project on the debate that occurred in
the 1950s linking rock and roll to the problem of juvenile delinquency. I have always enjoyed
listening to the music of the fifties and was surprised to learn of the controversy that existed at
that time. Being a teenager, I can understand why rock and roll music was so appealing to the
1950s youth. After discovering that so many were opposed to rock and roll music, I was
motivated to learn about the source of this discontent and controversy.
I used a variety of sources for my research. I consulted a number of books from the
library that described the history of and opposition to rock and roll and the social history of the
1950s. I also read several newspaper articles from the decade that described the various crusades
against rock and roll and the formation of the Senate Subcommittee. I collected a number of
videos depicting performances of many of its artists. I also used videos illustrating the
opposition. I used the Internet to examine archived documents of the Senate Subcommittee on
Juvenile Delinquency. I also used the Internet as a resource to gather the appropriate images,
video, and music needed for this project.
I decided to produce a documentary because of the nature of my topic. Documentaries
allow for the presentation of audio and visual content along with descriptive narration. This
provides an enhanced outlet of expression and creativity. This medium is flexible and there are
many techniques with which one can experiment and present. Overall, I felt that this format was
the best choice for the presentation of this project.
In the 1950s, youth crimes were on the rise and the teenage population was exhibiting a
noticeable change in attitude. By the mid-fifties there was a growing fear that the entire
generation was headed toward antisocial delinquency and rock and roll music was blamed for
this problem. A Senate subcommittee was convened in 1953 to study this problem and to
recommend possible solutions. Senator Estes Kefauver from Tennessee became chairman of the
committee in 1955. The committee was successful in increasing public awareness and holding
mass media accountable for self-regulation and censorship. The late fifties saw an attempt to
portray rock and roll in a respectable and presentable way in order to win parental approval.
Rock music has always been, and continues to be, controversial. Since the 1950s, it has
been blamed for inciting violence, criticized and censored for sexual and obscene lyrics, linked
to drug use, and even considered a health hazard causing deafness. Despite much debate, rock
music has prevailed over the years evolving into new forms along the way. The music that shook
up America continues to promote the emergence of outrageous performers and controversial
behavior. Over time, it has endured decades of opposition proving that rock and roll is here to
stay!