Why Youth Need to be Vocal in the Fight Against Racism

Young people represent the future of our country. They are diverse, passionate, and extremely concerned about where we are heading as a nation. Youth often feel powerless when trying to create change, when in reality, they have the most potential power of all and will be shaping the nation in the coming decades.  

Why Youth Need to be Vocal in the Fight Against Racism?
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Over the past few months, we’ve seen protests in all 50 states against police brutality and systemic racism. It’s extremely important for youth to express their disappointment, anger, concern, and frustration to those currently in power. Here’s why being vocal is so important right now and in the future.

Youth Can Help Inspire Future Generations 

Without the voices of America’s youth, the status quo will continue to remain the status quo. Staying silent only reinforces the harmful systems that have oppressed in this country for centuries. Youth are combatting fake news and are speaking up to plant the seeds for the future and inspire the generations to come. 

Change doesn’t usually happen overnight. It takes sustained action and united voices to enact real, lasting change. We have a long way to go when it comes to ending police brutality and violence. We have a long way to go toward dismantling systemic racism. But without the energy and voices of today’s youth, achieving those goals will be even harder.

Youth Have Firsthand Experience 

Children are not exempt from oppression and hardship. Systemic inequality has created cycles of poverty that are nearly impossible to break for most families. Young people who grow up in these communities disproportionately have firsthand experience with police brutality and injustice within their communities and families. 

In addition to violence, food insecurity, and poor educational opportunities, many of today’s youth in America have firsthand experience with substandard medical care and the devastating effects of poor health literacy. This has become even more apparent during the pandemic, as minorities have been hit the hardest by COVID-19. 

Youth & Future Hope to Close Gaps Between Social & Health Disparities 

In order to ensure equality for all Americans, young people need to be vocal about all the social and health disparities affecting underprivileged families. Alongside the persistent and appalling issue of police violence, communities are being held back by a lack of access to the resources they need for health, happiness, and financial security. They are disproportionately affected when national disasters occur and often find themselves struggling for their very survival. 

Youth in our country need to stand up and demand better for our citizens. Today’s voices will lead to change in the future. Fighting for equality means demanding access to healthy food, safe housing, equal educational opportunities, quality medical care, and more. Shamefully, we do not care for all of our citizens, and young people will be the catalysts for change, as they have always been. 

Youth That Have Made a Change 

Without role models, it’s tough to see how your words and actions can make a difference. Youth need examples of those who have come before and paved the way for young people to make a difference. 

One good example of a group of young people using their voices and personal experiences to create meaningful change is the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The school shooting that took the lives of many of their classmates mobilized action within the student body. They led protests and called for stricter gun laws, never backing down when criticized or told to be silenced. They are fighting to make their schools a safer place. 

Youth are making waves all over the world. These global voices are demanding peace, equality, and an end to oppression and violence. You don’t have to look far to find inspiring young voices calling for change and influencing the future.

We All Need to Speak Up 

Youth have a major role to play in creating change. But it’s important to remember that people of all ages need to be vocal and fight passionately for equality and positive change. We will not see an end to police brutality and other critical issues without raising our voices. 

Silence speaks volumes. We cannot stand by and allow innocent people to be wounded and killed by institutions funded by taxpayers. We need to do better—and we need to raise our voices.