From the Last Outside Generation

Now I realize that my story is unique for growing up in the East Baltimore environment. It wasn’t the best but definitely not the worst. I spent countless hours on adventure excursions in my neighborhood. My apartment complex was centered right in the middle of the woods above and the creek below. I would spend all my time playing in the creek, climbing trees, ripping, and running. I thoroughly enjoyed my freedom and independence as a child.

Growing up, there was nothing like waking up early on Saturdays, getting a big bowl of cereal, and camping out in front of the television for Saturday morning cartoons. For me, it was the only day that got to watch television for consecutive hours. All other days except Sundays were spent playing outside. I remember getting excited as the days pass, bringing me closer to my favorite day of the week. 

Looking back now, I realized that I learned so much from these programs. Most of the programming in the 90s were focused on learning, growing, and exploring. All of the children’s programs could be broken down into one of those three categories. We didn’t have programming just for entertainment purposes as we do now. 

When a parent sat a child down to watch television, the intentions were that they were going to get back up smarter than they were when they first sat down. Although this was an assumption for me, it proved true. I realize now the single most value I got from the programming was the importance of learning. 

I can remember how these programs specifically changed my thinking. It challenged my thinking about the world and the status quo. Shows like Out of the Box, The Magic School Bus, and The Big Comfy Couch stretched my imagination and fueled my creativity. These shows showed that there are multiple solutions to the same problem. Shows like Captain Planet, The Care Bears, The Smurfs, and My Little Pony and created a deep connection and bonds within us for the planet and everyone and thing that shares it. 

Curiosity was explored with Bill Nye, Where on Earth Is Carmen Santiago, Wishbone, Scooby-Doo, Pinky and the Brain, The Pink Panther, The Big Comfy Couch, Ghostbuster’s, Clarissa Explains it All, Where’s Waldo and Inspector Gadget. These shows taught me to investigate the seemly obvious by asking questions. 

There were many shows the encourage fearless adventures like The Wild Thornberrys, Hidden Temple, Duck Tales, Chip and Dale, The Rugrats, Powderpuff Girls, and Pokémon. There are a few shows that emphasize the need to be open to all possibilities like the Jetson, Power Rangers, Duckwing Duck, TMNT, Alf, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Kim Possible, Smart Guy, Kim Possible, the Muppet Show and the Flintstones. 

Most encourage education and learning as the key to success like Reading Rainbow, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, Barney, and Sesame Street. We had shows that emphasize how important family and friends are like Full house, Moesha, the Parkers, Family Matters, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Gullah Gullah Island, Alvin, and the Chipmunks, Garfield, Family Double Dare, Pee Wees Playhouse, Wimzies House, Thomas and Friends, Recess, Pepper Ann, Sister Sister, Saved by the Bell The proud Family and the Adams family. 

Popeye taught you the benefit of healthy eating. Kid songs obviously, let everyone know you have a song in your heart. Also, it showed us how music could be used for learning as well as creative expression. And finally, Looney tunes, Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventure taught you to be true to your authentic self regardless of the cost. Regardless of what others are doing. 

Somewhere in our society, this focus has changed. Most of the programming is strictly for entertainment purposes. Even the programs that are made for education teach you what to think and not how to think. It creates a significant problem in our society because we aren’t finding creative solutions to problems. That is why the same problems persist in every generation. 

Now creativity isn’t valued, and schools are cutting all the art programs out of their curriculum. This shift will produce more group think and untrained minds that will eventually be diagnosed as ADHD. But a brighter day is upon us. 

The last outside generation, aka the Millennials, is taking over. We were empowered from childhood to make a difference in this world. We spent our time after homework outside and have an intimate connection with the earth. In work and life, we are creative, autonomous, and altruistic. We have morals and a mission. Our freethinking minds and beliefs are here to disrupt and shake up the status quo. 

We are more than ready and prepared for so much needed change. Ready or not, we are here. 75% of Global WorkForce will be Millennial in 2025, and we are already in leadership roles and challenging what was and building what is. We are hoping that the world will make a shift to treat our planet, people, and animals better. Big business will suffer if they don’t go back to choosing people over profits.

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