Gen Z’s Cancel Culture: They’re Cancelling the Racists
As a mom of 2 Gen Z’ers, (one who voted in the primaries- woohoo!), I have some things to say.
(See Pew Research Center’s May 2020 article:
On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What We Know About Gen Z So Far)
First: I’m blessed to have watched not only my kids and nieces and nephews grow up- but their classmates and friends too. A number of them engage with me in person and on social media- which I have always considered an honor and a privilege. They are respectful— socially conscious— progressive—- talented — and not easily hoodwinked by the propaganda that previous generations consume (and that the propaganda machines churn out— My prediction— the Fox Newses of the world will have to reinvent themselves- these guys literally find it beyond irrelevant.) They value education and experiences.
Second: Yes- social media and smart phones are what they know. They didn’t grow up watching the Brady Bunch on their living room TV and writing long notes in cursive to each other on loose leaf paper. There is some fallout from this that they were the guinea pigs for sadly- one of which is an increase in mental health issues. But at the same time, mental health awareness is the best it’s ever been and getting better- and this generation embraces mental wholeness and is compassionate. They also show resilience and are doing a good job figuring out how to not let social media alter them negatively and to use it to make change in the world.
Third: As a Gen Xer, I feel we are the don’t-rock-the-boat, middle children that hold down the fort a lot for the generations on both sides of us- but have our own biases to contend with. We were the kids who had damn better be-seen-and-not-heard. (Very different then how we raised our own kids.) I find that older people in my generation and within the boomers have to cut the crap of ripping on the millennial and Gen Y and Gen Z generations. Get off your high horses and show respect. Respect is earned- and demanding respect from younger generations without giving it- and while displaying overtures against their values are not respect-worthy. (I.e. racism, xenophobia.) My kids do not need to respect you if you are older and a racist. They should be cordial to all neighbors etc.- but you need to earn the respect of my kids. And vice versa. I raised my kids respecting THEM- from an authoritative position- but always- always respected them as human beings in their own right. I do the same with their friends and classmates that give me the honor of being in their lives from the time I was a girl scout leader till now- In return- I learn SO much from them. I’m inspired by them. I love watching them soar. And they have proven to be so respectful to me and my husband and our generation as a whole.
I am disheartened by people in my Chicago-suburban town and in general that rip on the younger generations. Relegating them to the “Tide pod eaters” and “disrespectful” while never showing proof of these allegations- and usually don’t have kids of their own from this generation or interact with them.
I spoke out when some of the older people in my own town bullied and ripped on HIGH SCHOOL kids from the local high school that put on not only a Black Lives Matter rally- but they turned it into a food drive. I attended with my daughter towards the end of the rally and was literally shocked at what I observed: one of THE MOST well-put together protests I’ve ever been to- and I’ve been to them…. Heart, soul, innocence yet grit in standing up for their messaging. They faced off with counter protesters with respect and ease; and our mayor went out there and congratulated them which was made public in the newspaper and village social media pages. I left that rally and walking back to my car with my daughter, I was moved to tears- couldn’t even get words out to express to my daughter what I was feeling at that moment.
THESE KIDS ARE TEACHING THE OLDER GENERATIONS a thing or three.
So yes- respect your elders. This is a cornerstone of my faith personally- and a cornerstone of many cultures as well. But I will always demand that respect is EARNED. And demanding respect from our youth without giving it- without listening to them- without being willing to learn from them– without acknowledging their amazing progressive attitudes and fortitude and grit—- all while we left them with a government in shambles an economy rigged against them, and planet that may likely not sustain their children – is nothing short of ignorant, elitist and tone deaf. They are not entitled; we are entitled. This is their world. We just live in it. We still have time to inspire them— to support them— to learn from them— and to make this world the best we can make it for them and our grandchildren before our generations are just ashes on the heaps of the history books.
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“Members of Gen Z are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation, and they are on track to be the most well-educated generation yet. They are also digital natives who have little or no memory of the world as it existed before smartphones.
Still, when it comes to their views on key social and policy issues, they look very much like Millennials. Pew Research Center surveys conducted in the fall of 2018 (more than a year before the coronavirus outbreak) among Americans ages 13 and older found that, similar to Millennials, Gen Zers are progressive and pro-government, most see the country’s growing racial and ethnic diversity as a good thing, and they’re less likely than older generations to see the United States as superior to other nations.” ~PewSocialTrends.org
About the Author
About the Author: I'm a Writer, Speaker and Muslim Activist. I'm a former Board Member of the #MyJihad Public Education Campaign.
Follow my blog at yasminareality.com or follow me on Twitter: @yasmina_reality. I'm also now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YasminaReality
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