If one must point a finger at a generation, the baby boomers who were in college at the end of the Civil Rights movement, from about 67-73 would be a good starting point. The silent generation that proceeded them struggled immensely and cannot be held accountable to the same degree. In contrast the boomers were given a huge amount of autonomy, and financial support to be on college campus, and there was a fair chunk of them who did not capitalize on the situation. However because an overwhelming number of them were first generation college students, many of them did not necessarily know better. Some got their degrees, and other fell off.
The problem was that while they started a lot of Black organizations on these campus and created Black alumni groups, the group that followed them dismantled a lot of what they created, because they did not think it was necessary. Things were integrated, so what was the point of Black organizations? So here there is a group of very educated and qualified people who made a decision that had a disastrous impacted on those who followed them. The baby boomers have a very strong sense of identity, but often believe that they are entitled to respect due to their age, not their experiences.
As a result of their decisions Generation X did not have much to go on. They were not taught the value of succession and were not, overall given a lot of preparation, or left much in terms of institutions, which is tragic, because in retrospect, Gen X were very innovative. The 90s was a period of huge innovation, but when the internet boom came through Gen X did a smash and grab. Selling businesses and investing outside of the community were seen as ideal options for the Gen X crowd because they were seldom offered an alternative. Their predecessors did not invest in their communities, so it is not rational to assume that they would. Between Glass-Steagal being repealed, and the Credit Rating Agencies going berserk, it can be argued that Gen-X watched everything burn. Black Gen X cannot be held exclusively accountable for that. Gen X while very innovative are highly selfish.
Enter the Millennials. They have access to an unprecedented amount of information and technology, and have the ability to capitalize on the changes in technology in a manner similar to what the boomers did with the internet boom. With the exception of 80s Millennials, the rest have a disturbingly limited understanding of Black history, and an unprecedented disconnect from Black history. Many members of this generation do not understand racism in context, and worse still were not taught by their parents (largely boomers & gen x)about it. This has left a huge number of them physiologically vulnerable, despite an aptitude and familiarity with a technology that older generations have a difficult time grasping. Millennials suffer from knowledge without context; they have lots of information but have a weak grasp of cause and effect. No other generation is convinced that they know so much while understanding so little.
At this point, the ball is in the Millennial's court. Gen X has made it's mark an done it's damage. Fortunately for Millennials, their largest weakness is also the most easily rectified. All Millennials need to do is connect with older generations, like Gen X, Boomers, and Silent Generation especially. Older people are willing to give advice and kick game for free. Especially those Silent Generation old folks who are up in those senior homes who are lonely. These old cats are repositories of knowledge that are mostly left untapped. Boomers and Silent Generation have seen a lot of stuff. They know a lot of stuff. However their time has passed, and they are more than happy to pass on knowledge. Brothers and Sisters can learn a lot by talking to old folks in the neighborhood, in the church, in the senior homes. Even outside of that, the youngest of the old heads are always willing to kick game. Millennials are the least likely to ask for advice, yet they stand the most to gain from it.
you know 10 burgers, 10 large fries + drinks + cookies + apple pies and don't forget the ice cream "
)
dapped
