Artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s put their artistic training in the service of political movements for self-determination and political change, envisioning an art by and for "the people." The challenges they faced and the strategies they tried remain relevant today. This talk chronicles key artistic creations and events of the period, but also highlights debates in which cultural workers grappled with differing positions on community, self-expression, and critique in their efforts to find the best way forward.