Young people should be more included in American politics. Many believe that the next generation’s role should be limited due to a lack of knowledge and understanding. But the America of tomorrow refuses to be silenced. We are starting to understand the power of our voice and assembly.
A country deeply divided on critical issues should look toward the next generation for effective solutions. We should strive to be an intergenerational democracy that includes the perspectives and views of all of its citizens. Some of the most pressing issues before lawmakers are those that primarily affect future generations. These include abortion, climate change, school funding, gun control and racial divides. Decisions on issues such as these are often made without the proper representation of the people who are impacted the most.
This is due to the lack of respect on both sides. I have experienced moments in which I’m silenced for my “immaturity.” Instead of getting upset and responding in a disrespectful manner, I choose to take a step back and try to understand where my seniors are coming from.
I understand the many vicissitudes that older Americans encountered. Recognizing that wars, segregation and drugs were all issues older generations faced helps me to respect their experiences. This helps build a road to a more open dialogue and bridges the gap between their experience and mine.
This tactic is very beneficial because, while the details may be different, these core issues being discussed today are variations of the ones faced by previous generations. One example of this is discussions over school funding. While funding in previous generations may have been focused on things such as better access to textbooks, today discussions have shifted to things such as virtual learnings and access to online avenues to promote academic success.
I was recently fortunate to participate in the Constitutional Academy at the Bill of Rights Institute in Washington, D.C. I had the privilege of engaging with peers who share my interests in law and politics and had the opportunity to speak with my representatives’ staff.
Through those interviews on Capitol Hill, I learned the leaders of today feel that youth involvement is lacking, which I found shocking. I felt that especially in today’s social climate, young people were very active and involved in politics.
However, I was coming from the perspective of rallying and protesting. As young people who often feel unheard, we sometimes fail to recognize that our leaders are longing to hear our voices.
Through my visits on Capitol Hill, I’ve discovered that the most effective mode of involvement is being present in their forums of discussion. An example of this would be showing up and voicing our opinions at our local school board and city council meetings. We often don’t understand the full scope of how local government affects our lives. Young people of today focus more of their political attention on the federal government, but shouldn’t ignore issues closer to home.
Another important factor in youth involvement with politics would be the simple fact that many of my peers are disengaged. This leads to the lack of consistency that is seen today. It is very apparent that today’s youth yearn to be “woke,” but we often try to address problems through protests and then revoke our engagement when the protests end.
In these scenarios, in which we strive to have our voices heard, it is imperative to look to the generation that has already brought about change. Joan Mandle, a champion in the civil rights movement, spoke about the importance of mentorship in a movement saying, “We were taught how to organize by those who came before. Many of us even went to an organizing school.”
This speaks to the significance behind organizing, something that our generation often lacks. However, I feel that the older generation has to be open and willing to provide adequate support to a new generation of leaders.
Jacob Johnson is a rising junior at Maury High School in Norfolk who recently attended the Constitutional Academy at the Bill of Rights Institute in Washington, D.C.
