I've been thinking a lot about how our discussion of and framing of youth has moved from common stereotypes of youth (think: developmental, problematic, style-bound) to more complex constructions of youth that take into account their agency, their, well, youthfulness, their intellect, and their power. Yes, I said POWER.
Many of you who commented on the Obama videos and their effectiveness spoke to the fact that he recognizes, or at least says he does, the power and possibility of "the next generation." He, as a presidential candidate, wants to give the youth of this country something to believe in, something to hope for, and a meaningful purpose to their existence and work.
So, once again I've asked myself, "Where are these remarkable young people and what are they doing to make the world a better place?" I went looking and found a lot of Web outlets for youth activists--this is clearly a medium (they are digital natives!) where youth activism has a place. Think about your community...Where are the youth? What are they doing? How are they "helping" or "hurting"? Who defines what youth do in your town?
Check out Wiretap magazine, an outlet for youth activism and the youth movement. Make sure you note, on the left side of the screen, the menu of "hot topics" that youth are working for and writing about. Reading the "Top Ten Youth Activists of 2007" made me feel hopeful--some youth ARE paying attention and ARE trying to make inroads in important local, national, and global fights for justice.
www.wiretapmag.org
When you respond to this post, you might consider:
Why might youth be motivated to act as champions for the oppressed, the disenfranchised, the invisible folk in society?
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6 comments:
I was kind of surprised to see how some of these teens were helping out and especially by some of the topics that they were working for. Some of the issues and topics that they address or seem concerned with are issues that a lot of people don't generally associate with teens, including myself. I think sometimes I take teen youth for granted because of where I work. I understand how some teens earn the negative connotations, but I think these sometimes blind us from the fact that teens are and can do some good. I think the youth might be motivated to act as champions for the oppressed because this might be how they view themselves. They might see themselves as an oppressed group, controlled and molded by the adults, all of whom are trying to create a socially acceptable idea of teen/youth. Taking a stand for these people and issues could be their way of saying, "Here we are, an underestimated underdog of society, and we along with several other people and groups are important, and we have these things to say, and these things MATTER." I don't know if that makes sense, but it more or less seems to me a way of protecting and standing up for themselves as an oppressed people leading an uprise
Madison-
I like what you wrote about the "underdog mentality" of youth. Disenfranchisement does wonders for your sense of solidarity with other disenfranchised folk. And, "taking up arms against our oppressors" is a mode of thinking for many youth, whether it manifests itself in slinging a spitwad in social studies class or in protesting and picketing The Gap for supporting child (sweatshop) labor in China and Indonesia. It reminds me of "School of Rock," the AWESOME movie starring Jack Black. As Ned Schneebly, an imposter private school teacher, Black gets his proper, privileged students to form a rock band by teaching them the attitude they need. He tells them that they need a "Stick it to the man" attitude to be rockers. FIGHT THE MAN. Think about how many rock bands and revolutionaries and radicals and writers and artists and other so-called voices from the margins preach/sing/paint/scream this message of "stickin it to the man." Fighting the oppressor is, I think, in the blood of most youth, as they can identify.
By the way--what rights do youth have in this country?
most DEFINITELY an awesome movie haha
I think as humans, and to a varied degree, we all have an intrinsic motivation to help ourselves and others. I'm being optimistic when I say 'youth' have always felt the need to give a little bit; I think the difference now is that we as a society are actually giving them the opportunity--hence this magazine. (Teacher hat on) Wow, okay, if I were a history teacher I would sooooo have my students, as a class, visit this site--it's history in the making! I think back to when I was in high school and there was all this talk and grandiose ideas of how we 'could' improve society and our community but those ideas and conceptual plans fell short--actually they fizzled before they took off. My only issue is that I would make the issues seem a little more pragmatic and community based and provide structure--such as having a teacher lead the project. Not that kids can't do it alone, I just think the idea of changing the community and world when you have a hard time handling home issues, is daunting. I'm just speaking from personal reference. Oh, now I've depressed myself again. :)
"Amanda" is manna...darn i have to fix that or i'll sign 'manna' under comment
I agree with Amanda- that there is an internal motivation inside the majority of people to help, regardless of age. There are a lot of youth who try and do help to make the world a better place. And youth do need adult guidance or at least, adult support. Making the world a better place is a daunting task.
Adults, for the most part, do not take their efforts as seriously as they should. There is not much acknowledgement in youth power. Youth are not these 1 dimensional caricatures that adults like to emphasize. We (adults and youth alike) should all recognize that youth are capable.
My sister and her friends when they were in the 3rd grade did a little fundraising to collect and buy colored pencils, crayons and markers for sick children at Hasbro Hospital. And this started when she visited the ER for her own reasons, so yes, everyone is capable of making a difference in the world. (Sorry, I use my sister as an example a lot... lol)
Wiretap magazine is an awesome website. I wish it was more well known with adults and teens so that some of the stereotypes of youth can be shedded off.
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