There is nothing the honest Baby Boomer fears more than getting old. Most of the early Boomers will confess to “getting older,” but that getting old s*** is for people like Grannie Ani and me, admitting to being 78-years-old. We are the PreBoomer generation and, for the most part, we wear old age well.
Like our Silent Generation parents, we PreBoomers want to leave a legacy of an intact planet and an inheritance for our younger generations. As the elder siblings of the Baby Boom generation, we are, quite frankly, worried that unless Generations X, Y, and Z take hold of the reins of power, they will never get a chance to enjoy the fruits of old age.
Grannie Ani wishes to remind the younger generations that Baby Boomer ideas were, like all of us, fixed in their early cognitive years. Boomers, the first television generation, were weaned on phobias: including fear of change, of race-mixing, and the redistribution of anything tangible.
It serves us to remember that the early Boomer television experience, from 1946 to the middle-50s, encouraged racism, sexism, classism, and conformity.
“Let’s skip the academics,” said Grannie. Just remind Generation X, Y, and Z that Baby Boomers grew up watching Beulah (1950-53) as a representative of Black folks, and Tonto, sidekick to The Lone Ranger - 1949-57. Asians didn’t exist on the boob tube until the 70s. ”
I remember those years well. By 1957, with the debut of Charlie Chan, I was outdone that the only actor they found to star was J Carrol Naish, who was versatile enough, “they said,” to play a range of ethnic types. But my young Baby Boomer friends and relatives didn’t understand my angst. “It’s just television,” said my 10-year-old neighbor, for whom I babysat.
‘So much for your excursion down Memory Lane,” Grannie chided. “I’m talking 2023, and the crazy shit going on with the once-sane Republican Party. And what Generations X, Y, and Z can do about it.”
“Hum-m-m, tell me more,” I said. “If you’ve got a plan, we’d sure like to hear it.”
Grannie gave me that familiar all-knowing, beguiling smile. Of course, she has a plan!
“I’m gonna make this as simple as paint-by-numbers for preschoolers, okay?!
“THE PROBLEM: Generations X, Y, and Z are allies in trying to save the planet. Demographers agree that all three of these younger generations are on the same page when it comes to fair elections, voter enfranchisement, LGBTQ rights, and criminal justice reform. Gen Xers, Yers, and Zers are also pro-government and pro-equal rights; all big Baby Boomer bummers.”
“Okay,” I said impatiently. We all know the problem. What’s your solution?”
“The solution, my dear, is all in the math,” she said smugly.
“Please explain?”
“The average age in the US is 38.1. And that’s Generation X (1965 to 1980). But that’s just the start of this realignment. The legions of middle-aged Baby Boomers hogging the power and the headlines are the true minority, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.”
Then Grannie Ani produced documentation, just in case I doubted.
GENERATION BORN AGE # (MILLIONS) LIVING
Baby Boomer 1946-1964 56-77 70.68
Generation X 1965-1980 40-55 64.95
Generation Y (Millennials)1981-1996 28-39 72.26
Generation Z 1997-2012 27-9 67.06 (of voting age)
“And your solution is...?” I asked.
“For the New Public Good,” said Grannie seriously, “the Brookins 2020 Exit polls showed that Generations X, Y & Z were on the same page. SO, instead of taking to the streets, as they did in the wake of the George Floyd murder, thousands of X, Y, and Zers need to occupy the polls.”
“Like the Hippies upsetting the status quo in the 60s and 70s?” I asked, genuinely intrigued.
“Yep,” she said. “Exactly. Only now marijuana is legal, and shacking up is no big deal.
“Seriously,” she continued “these three young dynamic generations are desperate to take a bite of the Baby Boomer pie and the election season 2024 could change the course of American history if they use their 3:1 numbers advantage.”
Grannie was making sense. Gerrymandering will be legal at least until 2030 and state legislatures are stacked against anyone born after l975. But Xers who haven’t sold out Generation Y (those mighty Millennials), and the spunky Generation Z, who are fed up with generational rancor, can join together in the promotion of voter registration drives.
In states overcome with irrationality, Gen X, Y, and Zer with time can volunteer for Progressive candidates. And for upcoming elections, give those tired old intimidated ladies in the League of Women Voters a break and occupy the polls!.
“It’s quite simple, Toots.” That’s what Grannie calls me when she’s trying to be a smart-ass. “The only reason the Boomers are winning the game is that X, Y, and Z, haven’t stepped up to the plate. If they don’t get out of that dugout and onto the playing field, it could be game over for Planet Earth.
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© Valerie Shaw, M.PR