The text refers back to the influences of the 1950s and comments on the effects seen since the 1970s.
Emphasis is on the cultural and political changes that led to societal changes.
The challenges of racism, segregation, and voting rights are addressed in articles such as civil rights movement, freedom schools, and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Other articles trace the evolution of the free speech and antiwar movements. The length of entries varies from a sentence or two for terms and phrases, such as keep on truckin' and orange sunshine, to approximately two and a half pages. Some of the longer entries are biographical, covering such seminal figures as Eldridge Cleaver, Bob Dylan, Tom Hayden, and Timothy Leary. Many entries include see also references and a brief list of source material.