I’ve been engaged in a number of conversations about the perceived loss of hope and the inability of any political party to capture the fervor and excitement that propelled Barack Obama into the White House.
Many of these conversations end with people saying that the massive voter turnout and movement building that happened two years ago has all but waned, if not been lost.
And every time I’m engaged in these conversations, I remind people of the optimism that is still in the hearts and minds of over a 100 million voters and potential voters in America – the young people known as the Millennial Generation – the Future Majority of America.
You see, I was always very clear that everyday people, no different than you and I, got Barack Obama into the Oval Office by hosting house parties, registering new voters, educating our friends and family, and spending countless hours campaigning.
For many of us, movement building has never depended solely on one individual, but has always depended on masses of people becoming more organized, more socially conscious, and more active in grassroots campaigns for peace and justice.
While some may have thought we elected a Messiah, many of us still see the election of Barack Obama as a concrete reminder of our living potential to transform America.
So let me share with you a few reasons why I am still inspired and motivated by the Millennial Generation.
The Millennial Generation is the most populous, ethnically and racially diverse, and educated generation in the history of the United States.
The Pew Research Center’s report entitled, “Millennials: A Portrait of Generation Next,” reveals that Millennials are history’s first “always connected” generation, being more confident, connected, and open to change than any previous generation.
[pagebreak]
It was the Millennial Generation who first twittered about the horrific earthquakes in Haiti and Chile,
It was the Millennial Generation who were Barack Obama’s strongest supporters, backing him by more than a two-to-one ratio,
But it was also the Millennial Generation, whose lack of outreach to from the Democratic Party led to a low voter turnout that contributed to the loss of key gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat in the midterm elections.
It’s clear that Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, must reach out to, connect with, and embrace the Millennial Generation if they expect to gain our vote and confidence.
However, know this; it is the Millennial Generation who is vehemently against two wars, more accepting of immigrants, and more supportive of marriage equality,
It is the Millennial Generation who is c
