Grown-ups table: invitation only?
For as long as I can remember, holiday meals with the family were eaten at two separate tables: one for the grown-ups and the other for the “kids.” For me, transition to the grown-ups table presents a symbolic gesture of the time when my family accepts me as an adult, and finally takes me seriously.
But the transition to the grown-ups table is more than a right of passage. It represents opportunities for access to resources, in this case the good food, the control of when the meal begins, and the privilege of setting the schedule for the rest of the evening. For now, however, I still sit at the kids’ table, along with my college-aged sisters and even an older cousin and her spouse. I probably won’t get to the grown-ups table until one of my family members dies, which I don’t wish for any of them.
Wanting to spend a holiday meal at the grown-ups table is one thing. When it comes to our government and society, however, the lack of youth at the grown-ups table is more problematic. For it’s at the grown-ups table where real discussions happen and decisions are made that affect people’s lives. Throughout U.S. history, many different groups and interests have asked for a seat at that table: the table of access, of privilege and of power. For a long time the table was completely dominated by white, aristocratic, elderly men.
The passage of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution gave African Americans the opportunity to sit at the table. But it took more than one hundred years for the nation to overcome its hatred and brutality, and actually allow African-Americans to take a seat.
With the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, which allowed women the right to vote, gender was ruled out as a basis for excluding someone from the table. And here again, although we were legally allowed to be apart of the conversation, women were discouraged from taking an active part in the political process. Many years passed before women were allowed to take a seat at the table.
More people today are sitting at the table than ever before. America recently elected its first black president, a position that puts him at the head of the table. Other underrepresented groups, such as Gays and Lesbians, are making their voices heard, demanding a place at the grown-ups table. They may not make up a majority of the table, but many interest groups have at least one seat, which affords them a voice in the national dialogue and decision-making process.
On the other hand, today’s youth are continually left out of the discussions and, more importantly, the process of choosing what actions to take that determine our country’s future. Yes, any U.S. citizen who is eighteen and older can legally vote, but how can one expect Generation Y to participate in a process that largely disregards their interests and capitalizes on their perceived unawareness and indifference.
Yet, getting youth to the table is so vital to the present and future success of this great nation. Younger generations are the ones who will fill the full effects of policies implemented today. If Generation Y takes an active role in influencing those policies, we will probably be in a better position to deal with the consequences.
Perhaps the Social Security mess we’re in today could have been avoided if baby-boomers were brought into the conversation when these policies were being formulated, instead of them having to deal with its repercussions and surmounting limitations. Imagine a nation where its leaders consulted and worked with the youth on the country’s education policies.
Fortunately, there have been triumphs in engaging and involving the youth of this generation. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign was a remarkable example of this. His success and ability to excite the members of Generation Y stemmed from the fact that he made engaging and mobilizing youth a big priority.
And although this remains a priority for President Obama, how do we ensure that future leaders and institutions continue doing the same thing? It is clear that we must find some way to institutionalize youth involvement on a local, state, national, and international level. I’m not arguing for drastic, Constitution-altering measures. I’m merely asking for youth to be made a priority in this nation.
The invitation is only half the battle, however. Generation Y also needs to feel like we were invited because our opinions and insights are valuable. We don’t want to feel that we are just desired for show or to fulfill some top-down requirement. Older generations need to communicate that they believe in the value of engaging today’s youth and demonstrate that they take us seriously. If that happens, we will show up to voice our opinions and fight for them.
One must also consider who controls the access to the table. Whites gave citizenship to African Americans. Men gave women the right to vote. The older generations invite the young. Why can’t it be the other way around? Why can’t the youth engage the older generations? Why can’t America have both?
Category: U.S.
