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'Humans Be-Ing' © Gilbert Weingourt

The Human Be-In

"Human Be-In stories could fill a thousand books.  One day they will. 

Because the Be-In was designed as a genetic memory to be called on when needed.

Yet, one essential question has never even been asked, let alone answered.  Of the multidozen books already written about that day in San Francisco’s Polo Field, Jan 14, 1967, the one question which has never been asked by all the scholars with their versions of the truth is this:

How could it be that 20,000 people arrived,
enjoyed the day in  absolute peace (hitherto unknown) and with not a single policeman present to keep order?

1967 San Francisco was a hostile city.  New youth energy was about to request/demand much needed changes in America - no need to list them since most have actually come to pass: official race hate is gone, gay hate is gone, the list is long. 

' Humans Be-ing ' © Gilbert Weingourt

To gather, in those days, in free assembly still required a PERMIT. A permit issued by a city that arrogantly refused it.
When the permit request was refused, I approached my friend, the late great attorney Melvin Belli, with this “really big problem”.  Big because thousands of people with flowers , love, food and hope to share were ready to arrive at the Polo Grounds by the sea.  Mel had the answer instantly - he sent his secretary downtown and asked and received in 5 minutes a permit for his birthday party at the Polo Field.
Jan 14 was not even his birthday.  Armed with this piece of paper, the Be-In entered History."
By Michael Bowen © 2004 All rights reserved

'Human Be-Ing Crowd' © Gilbert Weingourt

The Name

Ex-Harvard professor Richard Alpert, who later became Baba Ram Dass, met up with Allen Cohen and others at the rally.

Alpert was asked what he thought of the day.

"Well," said Alpert, "it's a hell of a gathering. It's just being. Humans being. Being together."

"Yeah," -- "It's a Human Be-In."

Then it was decided to organise something called the Human Be-In.

The idea was to bring tens of thousands of people together, which is why it was also called ‘A Gathering of the Tribes'.

The huge open-air hippy gathering took place in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, January 14th 1967. More than 20,000 people turned up.

The Poster

"A Gathering of the Tribes for a Human Be-In."

One of the rarest pieces of Haight-Ashbury ephemera, and very much evocative of the era."Human Be-In."

Designed by Michael Bowen and Stanley Mouse and originally printed by The Bindweed Press, San Francisco.
Handbill announcing "A Gathering of the Tribes for a Human Be-In."

This item features a photograph of a holy man with a triangle superimposed over his face adding a "third-eye." It lists Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Gary Snyder, Jerry Ruben, and others as participants. The location: in Golden Gate Park . When: January, 14 1967.

This watershed event linked the Beat and the '60s subcultures, and catapulted the Haight-Ashbury hippie scene into national prominence.

Participants were asked to "Bring food to share, bring flowers, beads, costumes, feathers, bells, cymbals, and flags."

'Behind the Stage' by Lisa Law	'Dancing and Be-Ing' © Gilbert Weingourt

'Allen Ginsberg Dancing © Lisa Law	'Dancer Be-Ing' by © Gilbert Weingourt

Please Journey On To The

Human Be-In Part 2 & Links

1968 Oceanside Be-In

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