Generational Differences And Race
Sean Braisted on generational differences in regards to the issue of race.
Our generation is better on this issue than previous generations…unfortunately, it doesn’t appear those older folks are going to step aside and let us chose who will make the decisions that will effect us long after they are 6-feet below, so talk about them we must.
He is right. For the most part, Dr. King’s dream of white children playing alongside black children has been realized. As a result of growing up in an integrated society, Gen Xers and Nexters (Generation Y), have a much different perception of color than do the Baby Boomers. That is what makes a personality like Barack Obama so appealing and different than any black candidate that could have come from the previous generation.
Whites from the Baby Boomer generation, and I am of course speaking in general, either seem to have a sense of guilt or a little bit of bigotry resulting from their upbringing. Now don’t get me wrong here. When I say “a little bit of bigotry”, I am not judging or condemning them. They are the product of their environment and upbringing. Generally speaking, they are not bad people. If any one of us had grown up as they did, we would likely not be any different. To their credit though, their ideas have changed quite a bit over their lifetime. As for the other group that suffers from white guilt, their views are equally as harmful. They exhibit what I call the subtle racism of low expectations. They believe in their heart that they are progressive minded, and they are certainly well intentioned, but they place low expectations on black people, usually out of a sense of guilt. As a result of their “helpful” policies, black poverty, resulting from high out of wedlock birthrates, low graduation rates, and crime, has risen substantially.
Reverend Wright is an extreme example of a black Baby Boomer. Most black Baby Boomers are not as angry as he seems to be, but they are still angry, and understandably so. What they endured in their lifetime left an indelible mark on them and their attitudes. It created a sense of closeness in the black community and a distrust of whites. While their feelings are understandable, they are still not good.
I have always believed that this country would never be able to put the race issue behind it until the Baby Boomer generation passed us by. Until Gen X and Gen Y Americans of all origins control the government and the media, race will always be an issue. For this country to begin to focus more on “content of character” than “color of skin”, the Baby Boomer generation will have to pass us by.
Please note that when talking about generations, we have to speak in generalities.
[…] Glen Dean is discussing a post by Sean Braisted about the generational aspects to the issue of race. It’s an interesting discussion and I agree with Glen that we in America are making serious progress in the area of becoming less racially prejudiced. But Glen writes: I have always believed that this country would never be able to put the race issue behind it until the Baby Boomer generation passed us by. Until Gen X and Gen Y Americans of all origins control the government and the media, race will always be an issue. For this country to begin to focus more on “content of character” than “color of skin”, the Baby Boomer generation will have to pass us by. […]