Section 'E'

The Lost Generation

You know I've been thinking about things lately and something came to my attention that really made me a little nervous. I realized that I am apart of what I would consider to be the "lost" generation. Here me out though while I explain. Those of us born approximately between 1969 and 1982 are members of what they call Generation X. Even the name of our generation tells us something. All throughout school we take math classes and are told that "x" is usually uknown. "X" is also always the shortest letter in the dictionary and encyclopedia. Most of us can't think of 3 words that start with the letter X. So even in naming are generation they didn't know what to make of us, but what I'm talking about goes a lot deeper than that.

I recently went to a Town Hall/Symposium hosted by Tavis Smiley for his new book, "Covenant with Black America." Not only do I have the book, but now I'm a card-carrying member of this covenant. But anyway, I've noticed that there is a HUGE disparity of leaders in my generation. I can't even name 3 black people, or even white for that matter, that I would consider to be an outright leader and someone to help lead my generation and carry this covenant and the issues affecting our people. The sad part about all of this is that my generation is statiscally far more intelligent and "book smart" than any generation before it. We have been exposed to a lot more at a younger age than all of our predecessors, however, we are doing nothing with it. Dr. King and Malcolm X both died before turning 40 and look what they were able to accomplish. The only prominent figures in my generation are entertainers, be they in music or acting. Many of the people I know between the ages of 24 and 34 still live with their parents!!! What happened?? Why is my generation like this??? How did we get to this point??

Rather than try to find reasons to blame for the plight of Generation X, I thought that it would be a good idea for me to get the word out that we have been a failure as a generation. What have we accomplished, besides make hip-hop and rap music one of the most marketable entities on Earth. Who do we look to for leadership and to carry the mantle that those DAMNED baby-boomers are going to pass down? I think that one of our problems is that we are too self-centered and concerned with furthering one's self as opposed to advancing us as a people. We are more concerned with what we can accomplish and how we can make ourselves look good as opposed to helping the community get better. Our predecessors were fighting for evreyone's rights, while we could care less about anyone else, just as long as it doesn't concern or bother us. What are we going to do to fix this problem?? Are we even aware that there is a problem??

GOOD MORNING

posted by E. Lewis @ 10:30 AM Comments: 8