Cassady, Neal: The inspiration for Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road and The Dharma Bums, Neal linked the beat generation with the hippies by joining Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters on their Bus trip across the U.S.… Continue reading →

Castaneda, Carlos: An Anthropologist at UCLA, Carlos wrote a series of books about the shamanic tradition of the indigenous people of Mexico. His apparently first hand accounts of life as a sorcerer’s apprentice ignited decades of controversy as to their… Continue reading →

Cat: A male person who’s hip. Beatnik term adopted by hippies.

Centering: Figuratively, to find one’s balance. To center one’s awareness.

Chakras: Yogic concept. The seven chakras are physical and vibrational energy centers associated with the human body. The first begins at its base of the spine moving to the seventh at the top of the head. It is believed that… Continue reading →

Charas: Hashish made by extended pressing of marijuana resin by hand, resulting in a black, cylindrical potent piece.

Chavez, Caesar: Charismatic leader and founder of the United Farmworkers Union. Championed the underpaid, underrepresented migrant farm worker. Organized the five year grape boycott. Chavez helped to inspire Chicano activism of the 1960s and 1970s, combining the lessons of the… Continue reading →

Chicago 1968: Refers to the protests at the Chicago Democratic Convention where thousands of protesters, reporters and bystanders were caught up in a battle with the police. Mayor Daly took credit for the bloodshed while millions watched on T.V.

Chicago Seven: The group of organizers of the protests at the Chicago Democratic Convention in 1968. The Chicago Seven included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Black Panther leader Bobby Seale and Tom Hayden. They were charged with conspiracy and defended by William Kunstler.

Chick: A girl.