In undergrad school, I devoured Steinbeck, IIRC, I read every one of his novels. Loved his *style*. Being a product of a fiscally conservative/socially democratic upbringing...I became interested in the plight of the migrant worker. I went to lectures by Mario Savio and Cesar Chavez. [Both pretty good community organizers]. I don’t think the term *illegal alien* was even on the radar yet. :)
Then along can Barry Goldwater nad WF Buckley, and I was swayed by their speeches and writings. IMHO, while your brain is still *mush* to expose yourself to many ideas. You will find the *way.* I recall attending a series of debates between Rev Billy Graham and Mario Savio at MIT....Rev. Graham chewing Savio up and spitting him out. ;)
Good luck in your education. All the best.
Guthrie was introduced to the California area by Will Geer (remember Grandpa Walton?) who was a homosexual communist activist. These early years of folk music tradition set the stage for the mass 60's movement of folk literature. Seeger (a self-admitted communist) was a leader in Greenwich Village in the 60's when Peter, Paul, Mary, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell etc. took off. Amazing how it fits together.