Imagine living in the 1960’s to 1970’s where there was a serial killer/cult leader on the loose. That person was Charles Manson and his “family” was committing crimes against innocent people. Charles Manson was a cult leader during this time and would manipulate his followers into killing people for him.
Early life:
According to Britannica Charles Manson was born November 12th, 1934. He never really had a good childhood since he never knew his dad and his mom went to prison when he was young. Because of this he had to move to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle and at age nine he started committing crimes like stealing low valued items, committing armed robbery, and illegally entering buildings in order to commit a crime. Because of these crimes he got sent to a type of juvenile detention (jail for kids who committed crimes) where they would try and fix his behavior. After being in and out of jail, he got released in 1967 and then moved to San Francisco which is when he started to form his cult. He called his group a “family” which is known as “The Manson Family.” The group was a communal religious-type group that was dedicated to studying his eccentric religious teachings. These teachings were based on science fiction and philosophy.
Charles Manson’s motivation:
According to Lesley Kennedy for History.com Charles Manson liked The Beatles and he felt that they were sending him messages through their lyrics. Charles Manson viewed the song Helter Skelter as a final war between the men on Earth. There was also another song on the album called “Black Bird,” with a verse that talks about the black bird fixing their wings and flying. When he heard the song he thought the Beatles were telling Black men to rise up against white men. He also had a passion for death and he would talk about it all the time. These songs were his primary motive, especially the album Helter Skelter.
How did Charles Manson manipulate his “Family”?:
According to Linda Dubrow-Marshall and Rod Dubrow-Marshall for The Conversation, Charles Manson was able to control his followers by convincing them to start seeing him as a superior being. He would make himself seem like a powerful messiah figure (a savior type figure) and would persuade his members to commit murders. He thought the song Helter Skelter said to start a race war.
Over time Manson became a dominant part of his followers’ lives, identity, and self-esteem. He made them think their whole existence and way of survival was because of him. He would provide them with basic needs and soon they became a “family.” If his followers were to do anything against Manson they would see it as doing something against themselves. This would mean that Manson would kill the members that acted against him or have the other members to kill them. The members would also commit terrible crimes as an act of loyalty and a reinforcement of the cult’s identity.
The Manson Family’s killings:
According to Lesley Kennedy from History.com, the members of the Manson Family had a string of brutal murders including one actress named Sharon Tate, a coffee heiress Abigail Folgers, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, musician Gary Hinman, and horse wrangler Donald Shea. The words “Death of pigs” and “Rise” were written in Leno’s blood on his walls and on the refrigerator door the words “Helter Skelter” were written. Manson had an explanation for these murders which was very simple but also crazy.
While on death row Charles Manson said “It’s the Beatles, the music they’re putting out. These kids listen to this music and pick up the message. It’s subliminal … It is not my music. I hear what it relates. It says ‘Rise.’ It says ‘Kill.’ Why blame it on me? I didn’t write the music.”
In conclusion:
Charles Manson died at age 83 on November 19, 2017. The members that participated in the killings went to trial for their killings and also went to jail.
