Lafayette Morehouse

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"Morehouse University" redirects here. For other uses, see Morehouse University (disambiguation).
"Purple People" redirects here. For other uses, see Purple People (disambiguation).

Lafayette Morehouse,[1] previously known as Morehouse Univerity, is a experimental community, or commune, established in 1968, in Lafayette,[2] California.[3] The community is known by residents in the area as "the purple people," a diminuitive term derived for the community's characteristic use of the color purple on their buildings and on their clothing. It was founded by Dr. Victor Baranco[4] and his first wife, Dr. Suzanne Baranco. The organization also has a community in Oahu, Hawai'i. Since Dr. Victor Baranco's death in 2002,[5] the group has been led by Dr. Cindy Baranco, Dr. Victor Baranco's second wife.[6]

The community is an example of the experimental communal living groups that sprang up in the 1960's and 70's in the United States. Its founder was an early member of the Sexual Freedom League, which contributed to his creative process of establishing the More Institute, or Lafayette Morehouse.[7]

The community was founded on the "More Philosophy," or ideas that "people are right the way they are" and the ideal of "responsible hedonism." The community is governed by a strict consensus of the community, an ideal they call the "one no-vote" system.[8]

The purpose of the community is the research and education of the enjoyment of life, and the enrichment of life's pleasures. Courses offered by members of the organization to the community include topic such as interpersonal communication, sensuality and sex, inter-gender relationships, anti-materialism, individual development, among others. The most famous product of their endeavors is the book "The one hour orgasm: a new approach to achieving maximum sexual pleasure, and other information to make your relationship work better" by Bob Schwartz and published by Breakthru Publications of Huston in 1992.[9]

Because of the conflict between this group's lifestyle and ideals and those of traditional society, which conflict is common of communes such as this, there has been much controversy raised in the media about this group.[10] Also because the group is perceived to be secretive and exclusive by the surrounding suburban community of Lafayette, they are also the target of harassment and rumor among teenagers who trespass on the property on a regular basis.[11] Because of this harassment, the community has been forced to protect themselves with guards and fences.[12]

[edit] References and Notes

  1. ^ Some pictures of the community can be viewed on this flickr page.
  2. ^ Satellite View. Located on Purson Lane, a name perhaps created from combining the contractions of "purple" and "person."
  3. ^ Lafayette Morehouse. Accessed June 7, 2008. This is a principle reference for most of the information contained in this article. An academic article was published about this organization: Laurie Rivlin Heller (2005). "Basic Sense: The More Philosophy of Victor Baranco and the Institute of Human Abilities," Communal Societies. vol. 25, page 29.
  4. ^ Victor Baranco was the son of the Oakland jazz artist Wilbert Baranco.
  5. ^ Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawai'i News. Obituaries, Thursday, September 12, 2002. Accessed June 7, 2008.
  6. ^ A painting of Victor and Cindy can be viewed here.
  7. ^ K.L. Billingsley (1994). "University of Sex," Heterodoxy, vol. 2, no. 7.
  8. ^ Id. note 1
  9. ^ Id. note 1
  10. ^ K.L. Billingsley (1994). "University of Sex," Heterodoxy, vol. 2, no. 7.
  11. ^ Some accounts of this exist on personal websites and blogs such as these: http://claycord.blogspot.com/2007/07/purple-people-in-nut-creek.html http://reverendpujo.blogspot.com/2005/08/purple-people-madness.html
  12. ^ SF Weekly (August 23, 1995). Purple Haze. Accessed June 7, 2008.