Why Change Doesn’t Happen Without The Youth
by James C.
“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow” said activist, leader and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. Young people have served as the driving force for every mass movement that sought to challenge systems of oppression, subjugation and injustice. From the Civil Rights movement, Anti-War movements, the Black Lives Matter movement to March For Our Lives and the fight against climate change. The voices and actions of the youth have captivated the entire world. In the digital age where the internet and social media dominate the daily hours of most, new avenues for radical change have opened. Utilizing these avenues youth activists have created movements that have defined entire eras and changed societies. If history tells us anything it's that without the direct involvement of the youth, change doesn’t happen.
The youth were the beating heart and soul of the Civil Rights movement. Recently passed congressman John Lewis was 21 years old when he began his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. was 26 years old when he took charge of the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955. Whether it was young children, college students or passionate civil rights leaders, young people were at the forefront of the sit-ins, boycotts and inspiring revolutionary change. When examining the successes of the Civil Rights Movement, the passionate fire, drive and determination of the youth defined the time and laid out a blueprint for the next generation of youthful leaders.
As the Vietnam war raged on in the 1960’s a majority of American deaths were young soldiers in their late teens or early twenties. On hundreds of campuses across this nation young college students believing the war to be unjust spoke out, protested and died opposing the war in Vietnam. This series of events took the nation by storm and today is known as the Anti-War Movement. On campuses like Kent State University, students gathered to protest the draft faced the full force of the Ohio national guard and as a result four students were left dead. It was the courage and sacrifice of the young student activists who refused the draft, stood up to police and bullets on those campus grounds that ultimately changed public opinion. It was this shift in public opinion that forced the government to pull out of Vietnam. The Anti-War Movement showcased the power that young activists who are organized and determined to challenge power structures have in order to enact change on a political, social and international level.
Today in the 21st century movements and organizations fighting for change and against injustices continue to be spearheaded by the youth. Perhaps the largest and most controversial movement for change of the past decade has been Black Lives Matter. BLM, which began as a twitter hashtag between a collection of youth activists protesting against the unjust murders of unarmed African Americans by law enforcement, grew to become international. At the core of this worldwide movement has been young people. Ranging from middle school and high school students to college students and young adults, BLM has gathered the attention of the entire world to the injustices that lie at the core of our society. The actions, will and fighting spirit of youth from all walks of life has much like the movements of the past show the world that without direct involvement of the youth, change cannot happen. From multiple U.S presidents to politicians and CEOs of corporations the young activists of the BLM movement are not afraid to challenge those who hold power within our society. As well as exemplifying the necessity of young voices being at the forefront of enacting tangible change within our society.
The horrific mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida left 17 people dead and many more wounded and shed light on the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. The surviving students of the Parkland shooting began to challenge political leaders in this county (including then President Donald Trump) to put policy in place that properly regulated the accessibility of guns to those who shouldn’t have access. Called March For Our Lives, young students led a mass demonstration that saw thousands gather in Washington D.C to demand that federal gun control legislation be put in place. With nearly a thousand other similar demonstrations taking place nationwide, young people took a stand against the rising rates of gun violence and challenged the inaction of political leaders. March For Our Lives as yet another highlight of the potential of youth led movements to subvert the power of ignorant political leaders and enact change felt around the world.
Young people no matter the era, obstacles or daunting tasks have been the frontline soldiers in the fight against injustice and intolerance. Every movement or event that has sparked drastic change within our society and world has been driven by the youth. The youth have and continue to fight, organize and die to make change a reality. At every stage of enacting change the presence of youthful leaders and voices have been present. In order for change to happen the youth must be involved and until the voices of young people are acknowledged and respected in this nation change isn’t possible.