Power to the Youth
By Tran Nguyen
I was voted “Most Likely To Run for a Political Office” in high school. But, I felt uncomfortable calling myself an activist. From my point of view, I thought that the term is only reserved for revolutionary leaders, like Dolores Huerta, Malcolm X, Angela Davis, etc. Many older people would agree with this sentiment that Generation Z are not activists. They would characterize Generation Z as lazy, ungrateful, and loud, questioning how a generation could be absorbed with silly TikTok dancing trends, while claiming to be knowledgeable about political issues.
In light of this, I pose the question: What conditions have the preceding generations—Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers—handed down to Generation Z, prompting us to be so vocal?
My activism is a disruptive response to the status quo that preceding generations left us with.
There were many moments that radicalized me growing up. From the moment I was patted down and profiled by TSA agents as an 8 year old girl to the various walkouts and protests I have been a part of, I realized that activism is intrinsic to my generation’s DNA. Most of Generation Z was born after 9/11, in a country with deep divisions and prejudice. Our very existence has been framed by a backdrop of relentless surveillance and unrelenting animosity. There have been more school walkouts to denounce gun violence than gun safety solutions. There have been more youth-led climate justice protests than climate action taken by corporations and politicians.
My first protest was in 2018 after the Parkland School shooting. What was meant to be a learning moment for me turned into a punishment, when my science teacher created a pop quiz during that time to punish students for walking out. The teacher gave me an unexcused absence and called my mom. I knew at that moment, youth power was powerful enough to compel disciplinary action; we are powerful enough to make authority feel threatened.
Since then, my activism has remained unwavering. If I had allowed myself to yield to that animosity, I would have fallen victim to the very hatred that my generation is striving to combat.
The youth is tired. But we won’t stop