MIFA History II continued A Time of Upheaval and Change In 1968 the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association was founded by a few churchmen and lay leaders who hoped that by uniting their efforts they could meet at least some of the needs of their troubled city. Although they had few resources, their commitment was reinforced by both strong religious beliefs and the tenor of the times. Many things seemed possible in the optimistic 60s, which witnessed the destruction of old traditions and their replacement by new philosophies and institutions. It was an era of transition, “a water-shed in the cultural history of the United States,” wrote historian Morris Dickstein. The preceding decade, marked by cultural stability, also generated the intimidation and suppression of McCarthyism. The 50s with its apparent calm but hidden tensions provided the seedbed for the upheavals of the 60s when previously neglected problems could no longer be ignored. Grounded in the historic 1954 Supreme Court decision that outlawed segregation in public schools, a push began for desegregation in all areas of public life. The assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, the controversial United States involvement in Vietnam, the sexual freedoms made possible by “The Pill,” availability of mind-altering drugs, the vibrations of new electric and electrifying rock music, and even the acceptance of blue jeans as the universal attire produced tremors in all aspects of American life. One of the institutions undergoing vast changes was the church in the South. Next: The Awakening of Social Conscience