The Problem With Todays Generation, My Generation

What is wrong with this generation?

This is a question I often ask myself. When I ask this question, I’m not just talking about the entire 80s and 90s baby generation. I'm talking about the current African-American generation. It’s funny that I speak as if I'm not part of the generation. Honestly I sometimes think I don't. After hearing all the stories older folks tell me about "how it used to be", I think I have finally have figured out the problem with the current generation. The problem can be contributed to the older generation AND the current generation.

One of the main problems with our youths is they don't listen. See, once upon a time when someone talked you listen. You listened and understood what they were saying, not only did you listen but you also took heed to their words and put it to use. Nowadays, youths are going about life as if they know everything, when they really don't. Instead of looking to the older generations for guidance and tutorship, the current generation just believes they can go about life with disregard. As an African-American who was born and raised in the urban concrete jungle, I'm exposed to the current dire situation regarding today's youth. They [the current African-American generation] are content with being marginal and average, while their Caucasian, Asian, and Hispanics counterparts are steadily progressing in life and enhancing themselves. At some point in life, young African-Americans have to say "enough is enough", and start taking the steps necessary to succeed in life. Being marginal is not enough; being part of the average crowd is not going to cut it. We must begin to reach for the higher level." It's amazing how many people don't even know that there's a higher level they can progress too. There's much more to life, if you start to realize it.

But it's not just the younger crowd; the blame can also be put on the older generation(s). For the change to occur in the current generation, the previous generations must play an active role in the lives of the youth and young adults. I believe mentorship and tutorship is essential to success. The previous generation has lived their life, but now it’s time to impact the lives of others. What good is the life you live, if you don't help the youths? For my older folks, I ask this: What good are all the things you’ve done in life if the current generation is not able to continue what you've started?

These are questions that need to be asked and answered.

"If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,
If I can show somebody, how they're traveling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain."