| The American Folklife Preservation Act is the only piece of Congressional legislation that signifies a national commitment to cultural diversity. The chronicle of the seven year struggle to pass this bill, from 1969-1976, illuminates a myriad of concerns that reflect many aspects of the uniquely American experience. The institutional, ideological and perceptual factors that prefigure the legislation are explored against the backdrop of major conflict that prevailed in the United States during that time. The idiosyncratic citizen's lobbying effort that spearheaded the legislation, largely the result of one committed folklorist, is examined in detail. This analysis can be envisioned as a double helix, with a core of data from the official government record entwined by personal recollections of people who were centrally involved with the legislative process. A wealth of official documentation, including Congressional debates and hearings, records the legislative process and is a fascinating and often poignant reminder of its time. Interviews with individuals committed to the legislation, who offer valuable insights and analyses, complement and enrich the written record. Despite many unforeseen twists and turns, the American Folklife Preservation Act passed in record time with a remarkably broad and deep level of Congressional support. In the process, folklore allied itself with the fields of conservation and preservation and the perception of folklore changed, from a contaminated word--suggesting something that tears people apart--to a sensibility--an approach that brings people together. It is unknown whether the American Folklife Preservation Act is a genuine reflection of fundamental democratic principles regarding the social compact or just a short-lived experiment that amplified voices in the democratic polity. |
