Don't African American Baby Boomers Count?

[Beverly Mahone]

I figure this is the BEST place to air my grievance over the exclusion of black baby boomers. Every time we hear about baby boomers, we are being given the picture of how we grew up in the "good old days" where life was much simpler. Any time there is a discussion about baby boomers, blacks are rarely, if ever, involved in the discussion.

Case in point: The 7th annual baby boomer summit is happening in Chicago. Not one panelist (based on my last look) is a black baby boomer? Why is that? My theory is its because our thoughts and opinions and ideas don't matter with the majority. I even wrote the organizer about this oversight and received no response which, in essence, gave me my answer.

I am totally sick and tired of hearing about how we are the most diverse generation. Show me diversity when you make us INCLUSIVE instead of EXCLUDING us from the table. Otherwise, you are no better than your parents or grandparents who created the racist laws of exclusion.

I would like to have open dialogue about these issues and hoping you, who read this, will appreciate where I'm coming from. This is not written out of anger but rather from a position of wanting to engage in honest and open dialogue.

[Beverly Mahone]

Zenobia,
I understand exactly what you mean. I especially cringe when someone tells me to "get over it because it happened so long ago." Sometimes it's hard to get over it because the reminders are always there. When you hear reports from employers who say they would rather hire a convicted white male versus a black college graduate, that tells you something about the society we still live in. Why are Sunday church hours still the most SEGREGATED hours in America? Aren't we all worshipping the same God?

[Phil McMillan]

Zee,

I too am a big fan of the music of the 60's. I think our generation was so prolific with tunes that no other time period has ever come close to what we did. I guess I would have to disagree with you on the music you say was omitted from the discussion by Black artists. My friends and I enjoyed the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Drifters, The Spinners, Earth Wind and Fire, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sly and the Family Stone, the Platters, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me by Now"), Sam Cooke, Gene McDaniels ("One Hundred Pounds of Clay"), Gary U.S. Bonds ("New Orleans," and "Quarter to Three"), Ray Charles, Ben E King ("Stand by Me"), Sam and Dave, Bill Withers, Lionel Ritchie, Booker T and the MG's ("Green Onions"), the Chi-Lites ("Oh Girl"), and Johnny Mathis. I own recordings from all of these artists.

There were many other Black artists and groups that were successful in the 60's and into the 70's that were part of the Baby Boomer generation that many other people liked very much. The period of the 60's and 70's was an inclusive experience for all of us no matter what our backgrounds were.

Phil McMillan
http://www.babyboomerbaloney.com

[Zenobia L Silas-Carson]

Hello There and thank you for having me. I am a Chicagoan by birth, and raised primarily on the westside, before it got it's so called rough and tough reputation, but I would like to jump into the discussion concerning black boomers being ignored by the larger population of boomers.
I have friends of every hue and nationality and many of them are just noticing the omission of any of our music, dances, etc from the boomer conversations.
One friend pointed out to me saying, "Hey Zee, you are right, when boomers are mentioned, we go straight to Elvis, The Beatles, etc" and though we liked those groups and musicians, I am hard pressed to find any of my non African-American friends who can even identify what happened that was historically Black, growing up in the very same era that we did! I am not limiting this to music, but the whole thing about omission is usually denied by anyone of a culture other than African American and turned into some song and dance about our being too sensitive, or "you won't let it go" or some other such nonsense, when I am thinking, "I can't let it go, because I am being omitted from an entire era". How would anyone else feel if there was an entire segment of existence that they were part of, but never acknowledged?
I am far beyond bitter, because in sixty two years of life, I still have not understood the exclusion.
Zee

[Beverly Mahone]

Wow! Cassandra, thank you for sharig your thoughts. Upon reading what you said about how people responded when they discovered you were African-American, I had to chuckle because there are a lot of whites who would be surprised to learn they had a black bloodline somewhere in their lineage.

[Phil McMillan]

Hi Beverly,

Yes, I certainly agree that I cannot know what you and your family members have gone through. I will never say that the differences in people can be totally ignored. I would like to think that at least we Baby Boomers have been through enough to appreciate that everyone has value. On a smaller scale, I know that I was passed over for a few jobs some years ago because of my age. We all suffer because of some kind of prejudice.

Beverly, I mentioned the "chip on the shoulder" comment because I have had conversations with a few Black friends that feel some Blacks cannot move beyond the bitterness issue. As a result their lives never seem to improve. I have always felt that you get in life whatever your mind seeks. I have white friends and relatives that also have a bitterness about life that holds them back.

I know you didn't mention "Black thoughts" but you did say "our thoughts" don't matter to the majority. I guess I'm confused. Let me know what you meant.

This is a good discussion, Beverly. Thanks for responding.

Phil McMillan

[Beverly Mahone]

Phil,
I sincerely appreciate your candid response--which I always believe is the first time in REAL communication between people.

I have to respectfully disagree with you about the "chip on the shoulder" comment. You're right, we weren't there 200 years ago but all of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were a part of the Jim Crow segregated era and their opinions influenced us to some degree---until we were old enough to see the world through our own eyes.

As a white male, I do believe it is impossible for you to see what l see. When CNN reports a survey that says most employers would rather hired a white convicted felon over a qualified, educated black man--what does that tell you? When the only black women that represents beauty to white america are women who look like Halle Berry, what does that say?

Has my skin color been an issue? Of course it has. Have I allow that to stop me from striving for success? Of course not because if I do then that means I don't think anymore of myself than someone who thinks I'm nothing.

One more thing: I always find it interesting how people interpret things. I NEVER said "Black thoughts, ideas, and opinions don't matter to this group..." as you indicated. I was speaking specifically about the Summit. You might want to read that sentence and the one prior to it again.

What I appreciate about Boomer Authority is it gives everyone a platform to express their opinions and the right for others to respectfully agree or disagree.

[Phil McMillan]

Beverly,

I don't exclude anyone from the table. Nor did my parents and grandparents. Most of us look at a group or an organization without looking for racial makeup. It's not an issue. I don't look at a group and wonder if my ancestors from Ireland are represented. If you're that concerned why don't you become a panelist? I've read some of your posts and I think you would be a good fit on that panel.

You asked for some honest dialogue. I often think Blacks, at various times, are looking for reasons to have a chip on their shoulders for transgressions from 200 years ago. We Baby Boomers were not there. To say that Black thoughts, ideas, and opinions don't matter to this group is an insult to all of us. Nothing was ever handed to any ethnicity, Beverly. Each group had to fight its way to gain a foothold. Complaining doesn't do it.

I can feel your anger in your comments. Why not turn it into a passion and fix it? Good luck.

Phil McMillan
http://www.babyboomerbaloney.com