OK Boomer, Let's Talk

OK Boomer, Let's Talk

Adult nonfiction
Odds are very high that, where you're reading this blog, you're
either a boomer (born between 1946 and 1964) or a millenial (born
between 1980 and 1996). If you're a member of either generation or
the one in between (X) OK Boomer, Let's Talk: How My Generation Got
Left Behind is worth reading.
Jill Filipovic wants older people to ditch any of the hurtful
millenial stereotypes too many of us bandy around: snowflakes,
America haters, Peter Pans refusing to grow up, and needers of instant
gratification and social media likes.
"...The Millenial stereotype of an indulged, hypersensitive
narcisist is a convenient mask for the emotionally and economically
precarious realities set in motion by Baby Boomers..."
Filipovic has blended interviews of fellow Millenials with
background information to create an in depth portrait of a generation
for the most part mired in poverty and precarity, beautifully blending
graphics and text to let readers know that:
*Although a quarter of the American population, Millenials have 3% of
the wealth; Boomers at the same life stage had 21%;
*With dollars adjusted for equivalence, Boomers left college with an
average debt of $2,300. For Millenials it's a formidable $33,000;
and *Beyween 1970 and 2019 median rent (adjusted) has soared from $600
to $1300.
That's just a sampling of the data.
OK Boomer, Let's Talk is very intersectional. Much attention is
paid to all the ways in which Millenials of color are massively
disadvantaged in comparison to their white peers.
In the not so distant past we saw racism as an individual
aberation. If whites didn't run around in robes and hoods we were
good. Now we're beginning to realize that being born into a world of
systemic racism and unfairly benefitting from it makes us complicit.
We need to do we can to surrender our unearned privilege.
Similarly, those of us who were born Boomers can't pat ourselves
on the backs if we're not demeaning Millenials. Just by being born in
a time of decent wages; attainable college; affordable mortgages,
health care, and child raising--not to mention electing people who did
a lot to burn the bridges behind us--we are implicit in the plight of
our children's generation.
This is actually a hopeful realization. Those of us who aren't
millionaires or senators can do a lot to change things. We can follow
key issues via reliable news sources and educate our peers. We can
sign petitions and write to legislators. We can use our numbers to
influence elections in progressive directions. He'll, now that it's
getting COVID safer we can hit the streets and protest. I'm going all
in with Poor People's Campaign.
That is what Filipovic is asking Boomers for. At the end of the
book she says:
"For that, we need you to make decisions with everyone's
interests in mind, not just your own. We need you to realize that we
are rational adults with a different perspective, not indulged
children in need of reprimanding. We need you to vote with all of our
futures in mind. We need you to lean into optimism for what could
be. We need you to see that we will make this country, this world,
better if you'll let us. Mostly, we need you to hand over, or at
least share, the reins of power.
Give us a hand, Boomer--okay?"
On a purrrsonal note, it was an incredible weekend. Eugene went to
camp. But I stayed home because it was the annual town wide yard
sales. Even with intermittent showers on Saturday morning there were
a lot of sales. I scored some bargains. Sunday after Eugene got home
we went on a road trip, stopping at Goodwill. With a coupon I was
able to get 50% off my purchases which included a really cute cat
shirt. The big event was the Fathers Day cookout at Amber and
Brian's. It was so wonderful to spend precious time with my amazing
children. I live for time with them. The food was really good too.
Brian has a grill now. He can work magic on it. Katie got to meet
Tobago for the first time. Adam was glad to see her again. The
family loves our precious cat. (Jules)
And I loves them too. (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to our amazing family and to all who
had yard and garage sales.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway



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