The Strawberry Statement by James Simon Kunen
"The Strawberry Statement: Notes of a College Revolutionary" by James Simon Kunen is a reflective account of the protests at Columbia University in 1968, as experienced by a college student navigating the social upheaval of the era. The book, structured as a journal, captures Kunen's personal experiences and thoughts during the protests from late April to early June, revealing his ambivalence towards both mainstream society and radical movements. As he participates in the Columbia protests, Kunen provides a humorous yet cynical critique of American materialism, conformity, and the Vietnam War, while expressing a reluctant stance against armed revolution.
In addition to documenting his activism, the book narrates Kunen's summer activities, including his involvement with the court system, interactions with draft resisters in Canada, and reflections on various cultural themes, such as long hair and religion. Although the book received generally favorable reviews, resonating with some segments of the establishment, its moderate critique limited its acceptance among more radical factions of the left. The text serves as a significant cultural artifact reflective of the youth rebellion of the late 1960s, offering insights into the complexities of student activism during a turbulent period in American history. Additionally, the book has been adapted into a film and remains a resource in academic settings for exploring student perspectives on activism.
The Strawberry Statement by James Simon Kunen
Published 1969
Author James Simon Kunen
One of the best expressions of college student alienation during the late 1960’s. This book combines a journal of the 1968 Columbia University student protests with thoughts on such subjects as the emerging youth culture and the problems in American society.
Key Figures
James Simon Kunen (1948- ), author
The Work
In The Strawberry Statement: Notes of a College Revolutionary, James Simon Kunen, a nineteen-year-old Columbia University sophomore, attempts to explain his generation of rebellious college students. The first third of the 156-page book chronicles in journal fashion Kunen’s somewhat diffident participation in the protests at Columbia University between April 22 and June 4, 1968. Most of the remainder of the book recounts Kunen’s summer during which he is involved with the court system, works on his book, travels to visit draft resisters in Canada, falls in love, and attends Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) meetings and presents his thoughts on such subjects as long hair, religion, the Vietnam War, and baseball. Throughout the work, he takes a humorously cynical view of both mainstream and radical society. He believes that society is disintegrating but is not ready to join those calling for armed revolution. He says he will give the republic one more chance but suspects that “democracy cannot be revived through democratic means.”
Impact
Excepts from The Strawberry Statement appeared in New York magazine (1968) and The Atlantic Monthly (1969) before the entire work was published by Random House in 1969. Reviews of the book were generally favorable: The Saturday Review found Kunen “sane, level-headed, perceptive, thoughtful,” and the New Republic regarded the author as a reliable representative of his generation. Although Kunen’s criticisms of American materialism, conformity, and the Vietnam War might have put him at odds with the mainstream press, his wit, general skepticism, and reluctance to become an armed revolutionary gained a sympathetic hearing from what he would have regarded as the establishment. However, these latter qualities prevented his book from being widely accepted by the radical Left, which was becoming increasingly ideological and prone to violence. Within two years of its publication, the book was translated into Japanese, German, Swedish, and French, languages of countries that also had significant leftist student movements. In 1995, it was reprinted in the United States, primarily for use in college classes. Ultimately, The Strawberry Statement is more significant as an expression of the youth rebellion of the late 1960’s than as a work having significant influence of its own.
Related Work
The Strawberry Statement (1970), directed by Stuart Hagmann, is a dramatization of the book.
Additional Information
Other student perspectives on the Columbia University protests appear in Up Against the Ivory Wall: A History of the Columbia Crisis (1968), edited by Jerry L. Avorn.