We’re lazy. We’re entitled. We’re narcissistic. Most importantly, we think we are all special and deserve just treatment. These labels and broad generalizations are often thrown around when describing the “millennials,” but our generation is more than “snowflakes” who prance around all day. We live in a time of social upheaval; norms are challenged, and status quo is no longer the status quo. What society considered acceptable in the 1960s is vastly different from modern-day America. Social change occurs through protests, lifestyle choices, and songs. Music encapsulates the spirit of each generation and is indicative of the eras values. If you were to ask most people who the biggest name in music has been for the past decade or so, you’d likely be met with the same answer: Kanye West. While he is not a millennial, our generation looks to him as a role model and cultural icon. Although they are criticized for being lazy and entitled, millennials are taking action on social issues with Kanye West and his music embody this rebellious spirit.
Labelling millennials entitled and lazy is an inaccurate characterization; our generation is just as if not more active than previous ones. If you turn on the news or read the paper, they’re littered with stories of protests or people taking actions against perceived injustices. Movements such as Black Lives Matter fight against modern racism and are marked by multiple marches and protests throughout the country. These millennial demonstrators aren’t just sitting down on their couches posting messages of support on Facebook, they’re going out in organized protests like the ones following the deaths of Michael Brown or Sandra Bland or Freddie Grey. Some lazy and entitled millennials are also out campaigning for environmental issues as global warming and other issues have risen to the forefront of national attention. The debate over the Keystone Pipeline riled many up to go out and demonstrate their opposition to the potentially ecologically disastrous build. Not all this challenging of long-standing beliefs necessarily produced positive results. The American people were tired of career politicians and this challenge of political norms led to the election of Donald Trump, an extremely divisive figure. The Donald is an outsider, who doesn't follow the unwritten traditional rules of politics. The way he goes about running the country is completely different from anything we’ve seen before. Regardless of personal character, Trump's victory and other protests are a signal of a larger theme: times are changing and old institutions don’t stand a chance.
The long-standing role of women is evolving in today's society and Kanye is on board. The attitude that a women's is in the home is outdated. We’re taking actions to rid ourselves of this notion; with programs encouraging women to enter male-dominated fields, like STEM or rap. Celebrities and other important figures are voicing their support for this movement, and while Kanye might not strike everyone as a person to champion women’s rights (some criticize his lyrics, believing them to be demeaning), his actions indicate otherwise. “Hey Mama”, a widely popular early-Kanye song, details his love for his mother and his appreciation of her hard work in raising him in a non-traditional role. Having a prominent female role model throughout his life helped West appreciate the strength of women. Contrary to the popular message presented in the rap genre, West views women as more than objects. Instead, he values their countless contributions to society. Using his platform he can spread this message to his millions of fans and help foster the evolution of gender roles. Women fill more high-profile jobs than any previous era and continue to rebel against antiquated gender roles.
Though not as drastic as the rejection of the traditional role of a woman, fashion faces its own upheaval, and Kanye’s fingerprints are all over it. Gone are the days of dressing in a suit and going to work. Casual Fridays have extended to every day of the week and the “modern” look has taken over. Clothing has veered from itchy suits to minimal, comfortable basics. West’s brand “YEEZY” takes this idea to the extreme. From expensive plain white t-shirt to his highly-coveted “Yeezy Boost” shoes, Kanye captures this modern spirit in his designs. Even the fashion and music mogul’s former creative director, Virgil Abloh, owns his own extremely popular brand “Off-White.” Abloh takes fashion down to its basics, with muted colors and oversized clothes, giving off a rebellious vibe. Instead of getting lost in the maze of suits, we want to buck old trends and create a physical manifestation of our individuality. Fashion represents a day-to-day expression of originality and in a generation that wants to make a difference and standout, it has flourished.
Most action has been taken against discrimination and police brutality with Kanye being an exceedingly vocal proponent. As mentioned previously, the Black Lives Matter movement has swept the nation, and as each day passes their voice gets louder and more uproarious. People aren’t sitting back and watching videos of beating on their phones, they’re getting out there and making an effort to change the long-standing subtle racial discrimination. Kanye uses his music as an outlet to create a dialogue about race relations in America; most notably with his hit song “Black Skinhead” which is often stylized as “BLKKK SKKKNHEAD.” His lyrics reflect his sentiments of being one of few African-American men at the top of pop culture “They see a black man with a white woman/At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong” (West). He feels attacked by the media and treated as an “ape” in a white man’s world. So how does he respond? With one of the most uproarious and primal-sounding tracks; the drums are harsh and Kanye’s voice pierces your ears. The sound encases African-Americans’ struggles and their fiery rebellion against racism; its a call to arms for black people around the country to get up and do something to change their current situation. Through his sound and lyrics, Kanye represents the fight against modern racism.
Contrary to the labeling of millennials as lazy and entitled, our generation rebels against antiquated societal beliefs and institutions and, though not a millennial himself, no person embodies this better than Kanye West. But why is there this stigma around millennials? This idea that the generation after yours is worse than your own is nothing new. The ancient philosopher Socrates was quoted saying “The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.” Is our generation truly that lackadaisical, or do our values differ from generations prior? Part of the problem can be attributed to a decline in intergenerational conversation. The more we talk with each other the better we understand each generations respective goals and values. Maybe instead of the next news headline being “The Millenials are Killing the (insert business here) Industry”, it will be “How President Kanye and the Millenials Changed the World.”