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In the 1950s, parents felt disconnected from their children more than ever. The uprising of Rock & Roll was one of the first major music genres to take influence from African American styles of music. Through Rock & Roll, singers had the right to be sexual through music. Parents feared the youth of America were turning into minority-accepting sexual deviants. 

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Chuck Berry:  Was the first African-American black male to produce music for an audience of mainly white American teenagers. He released songs like “Johnny B. Goode” with a popular beat that made white teenagers want to sing, dance, and move their bodies in ways they had not done before. Since he was the “Father of Rock & Roll,” he played a significant part in the introduction of rock and roll to American culture and began to break down cultural stereotypes of relationships between Blacks and Whites.

 

Little Richard: was a flamboyant Black man whose persona appeared controversial during this time. His songs “Tutti Frutti” and “Good Golly Miss Molly” made white teenage girls scream and lit a desire to learn sexual dances like Little Richard. Richard’s flamboyant behavior and sexual preferences exposed American culture to new contentious issues. 

 

Elvis Presley: coiled the sensuality portrayed by Little Richard and took it to the next level based on his intense sexual image. Teenage girls watched Elvis shake his hips and listened to the music coming from his lips and all they could think about was moving their bodies. His song “Shake Rattle and Roll” was an act based on promoting sex. Elvis brought in a wave of liberalism and non-conformity that American culture had not experienced from a white musician before.

 

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White parents are stressed because their children race-mixed for the first time. The stereotypes of Black men being aggressive and dangerous were being replaced with feelings of awe and respect. White teenagers  listened to music played by black musicians and imitated their words and actions. White and black teenagers hung out together, spent a lot of time with each, and were introduced to new cultural norms. White suburbia moms and dads did not want their white teenage girls socializing with Black boys. Historically, Black men/boys were viewed as perpetrators who were sexually aggressive toward white women. Charges of rape were routinely fabricated and used as ways to enforce segregation.

 

 White parents were also alarmed about the heightened sense of sexuality and the introduction of non-conformity being sung by musicians like Elvis Presley. Girls saw Elvis and all they could think about was being close to him and touching him. Teenagers wanted the freedom to manage their bodies in ways that made them feel good.

 

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In the 1950s, Rock and Roll turned teenagers against their parents. The youth wanted liberation from rules, social constraints, and societal norms. Liberation created a spirit of non-conformity where youth rebelled against their parents. Moral values rooted in deep, religious faith became replaced with sexual promiscuity and a desire for self-gratification. Parents tried to censor their teenagers from the new age of self-expression introduced by Rock & Roll, but the more parents enforced their authority, the more rebellious their teenagers became. The youth of America revolted against societal norms and demanded validation for self-expression and self-indulgence.