2020 has been an absolute dumpster fire in a lot of ways; the pandemic, the deaths of countless icons, the Presidential Election, and the U.S. becoming more and more polarized by the day (This list could stretch for miles, but for brevity's sake I'll end here). One good thing that has come out of all of this, however, is activism made mainstream. It might not mean much for someone as young as I am to say something like this, but I have never seen this level of civic engagement before, and even in a time of utter chaos, I can see a brighter future ahead for America.
My age group, dubbed Generation Z, is by far the most politically-minded, socially-aware generation this country has ever seen. This isn't to say that previous generations were less intelligent or less concerned, but they didn't have the access to worlds of information that we do. They didn't have the ability to hear first-hand accounts from the scene of an event in real-time or communicate with people from every corner of the world with a click of a button. Young people today are constantly bombarded with information about terrible things happening all over the world; we have no choice in the matter. But there's something else about our generation that sets us apart: when confronted with tragedy, we don't just assume that someone else will handle it or leave the problem for a later generation. We take it upon ourselves to do something about it.
The Black Lives Matter movement first began in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the cop who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin unjustifiably. The activists involved in the movement tried to give as much publicity as possible to victims of police brutality and bring to light the darkness that has existed since the genesis of this country. Protests raged throughout the years, calling for justice for the innocent lives lost due to racism, but it wasn't until 2020, and the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and more, that Black Lives Matter became a household name in the United States. Millions of young people from across the country marched hand-in-hand, unifying to protect and uplift the lives of people of color. Social media exploded with information about the movement; hundreds of accounts were made specifically to spread awareness about social issues and inform the public about what might not be covered on the news or suggest plans of action for people who wanted to help, like signing petitions or donating to activist organizations. Social media became a vital tool for organizing and informing activism, and older generations finally started to see the power of the Internet and of young people who were sick of injustice.
All the books we read as young adults, like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Divergent, taught us that one person can make a big impact, that age or background couldn't stop us from questioning corrupt governments and fighting to make the world a better place. Many young activists, such as Greta Thunberg and Emma Gonzalez, have already made headlines in demanding change for policies regarding gun control and global warming. Young people are at the heart of the movement for social change, organizing and marching and signing petitions and educating themselves. We have refused to be complacent, to be apathetic or ambivalent. This is why I am hopeful; our generation is idyllic, optimistic, and uncompromising. We know that the world can be cruel, but we won't let this stop us from having hope for change. We have seen terrible atrocities committed against innocent people, natural disasters, and tremendous losses of life, but still, we fight for the world we think we can make. We believe in the power of kindness, in the power of small acts of good, and the power of civil disobedience. We have learned from the agents of change before us and we refuse to let their sacrifices be in vain. We won't take "no" for an answer.
To my fellow young people: make your voice heard. Vote in the upcoming election, march and protest, talk to anyone who will listen and make them see. Don't let discomfort stunt your growth. Trust the process, and trust the voice in the back of your mind that tells you something isn't right. We will be dismissed as naive or sheltered by people who gave up on making the world a better place long ago, but we always must remember that "it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness". Put yourself on the right side of history, and never stop fighting to make the world a better place for all the people who come after you. Our generation, one day, will change the world.
