In the laundry list of popular stereotypes of young people, political apathy features prominently. We have been told we’re the Me Generation. Generation Entitlement. That as young people we care more about Beyoncé’s latest Instagram post than about the upcoming election.
However, from my vantage point as the daughter of a California state assemblywoman, a politically engaged college student and a millennial myself, I see a very different picture. We are 70 million strong, from all walks of life, and we want change. Candidates for elected office dismiss or patronize us at their own peril.
{mosads}Unlike most kids, I grew up neck-deep in politics. From walking the local precincts with mom in elementary school to picketing for down ballot issues in high school, my childhood was colored with memories of galvanized action. Political action came with the territory in my house and provided me with a front row seat to the profound impact of local and state politics.
Today, as I reflect upon my own experiences and prepare to vote for the very first time, I understand more than ever the tremendous power and potential we, the millennial generation, have at the ballot boxes this year.
With 44 percent of eligible millennial voters identifying as non-white, we represent a clear disparity in racial makeup as compared to preceding generations. From a black teen in Nevada voting for the first time to a Florida-born son of Latino immigrants to a white Christian couple in Ohio, we are a uniquely American mosaic.
Moreover, as pragmatic idealists who believe deeply in causes, our priorities and concerns have shaped agendas and, when channeled, have provided the momentum for our country’s new attitudes toward members of the LBGT community, immigrants and women’s rights. Unlike generations past, we have reached a consensus on some of the major issues that have proved divisive for our elders.
Coupled with a coming-of-age story that is bookended by 9/11 and a crippling economic recession, we continue to challenge our predecessors’ expectations based on race, class and background in surprising ways. Our opinions are a reaction to what we see as the loss of the American Dream and an intent to shape something new and important that reflects our reality – on our own terms.
Putting fact to theory, I spent the past summer living on Capitol Hill with six other politically-minded millennials for a political reality series called “House Divided.” From all corners of the country and across ideological spectrum, we lived together under the same roof to break bread and tackle hot-button issues including abortion, gun control, transgender rights, climate change and immigration. While we certainly did not always agree on the big issues, it’s humbling to know that in America, young people from all ends of the spectrum are empowered by democracy to openly debate on contentious issues. Witnessing the true passion people my age have for politics and for creating real, lasting change in our country was truly inspiring.
Even as we’re all hypnotized by the presidential race, we have to recognize that the issues that impact us directly, that move us to tears and to demonstrate in our communities, are almost exclusively determined by state and local leaders — not our president. This is not to say the race for president isn’t important, of course. We – the Millennials – were a large part of the reason President Obama sailed into the White House in 2008, after all. But there are Congressional, state and local elections every year, and as I learned firsthand growing up, they directly impact important issues that affect our everyday lives.
Too often, leaders elected in down ballot races ignore the influence of millennials and implement policies that take no input from younger voters. This is how education and healthcare cuts have been made. How women’s and LGBT rights have been shattered. It’s time the millennial voice is heard on a local level so that we can reverse the tide of these outdated laws that currently constrict our freedom and livelihoods.
At the end of the day, it’s on us to seek out and support the right people who represent our will and our priorities — and that is how we ensure justice and change in our communities.
As the daughter of a mother who fought for me – for us – her whole life, I am a witness to the impact our voices have in disrupting and changing the system. No one can tell me that this young generation of voters is apathetic. That we’re disillusioned or too lazy to make our voices heard. To the contrary, we are impassioned, we are engaged and our zeal for uprooting the status quo can’t be denied. The issue now is simply a question of action.
Tierra Gonzalez is 20 years old and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is featured on a new original series, “House Divided,” from Fullscreen.
The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.