MoCo Black Coffee Podcast

MoCo Black Coffee Podcast Episode 2 - Youth Voices Part 1

• Frederick Hawkins • Season 1 • Episode 2

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In this episode of Black Coffee, we’re exploring the theme Youth Voices in the County —what is it, why does it matter, and we’ll hear from several MCPS Summer RISE student interns, and discuss their insights and perspectives.

Frederick:

Welcome, welcome. My name is Frederick Hawkins and I'm the African American Community Liaison for Montgomery County and this is Black Coffee. Black Coffee is a podcast that amplifies black voices and initiatives in Montgomery County. This program is a community program that pushes for Community Progress. And today we have a special episode. We have two very special Summer Rise interns with us today. I'm super excited. Before we start, I would like to say thank you, and we are all very proud of you for what you're doing, what you have done, and what you will become. So thank you. Thank you. So we're going to jump right in because we all want to hear what the young people are talking about. What do you think? Because the world will become yours very soon. All right. So, my first question, well, first, introduce yourselves to the audience. And what school did you go to? You're here.

Miatta:

My name is Miatta Muse, and I'm a rising senior at Northwood High School, and I'm excited to be here.

Kobe:

Hi, my name's Kobe Benton. I'm a rising senior at Brewer High School, and I'm also excited to be here.

Frederick:

All right. Excited to have you. Thank you, guys. Thank you. So first question, what is the general feeling of the youth in regards to their voice? Do they feel that they have power? Do they feel powerless, empowered? What are your thoughts?

Miatta:

I think that a lot of the youth feel unheard and powerless because we're constantly told by older generations that our opinions aren't valid. and that we are too young to act on things, but also a lot of the time youth are very powerful and they can do all types of things, so of course it's kind of mixed.

Frederick:

I understand. I understand. What about you? What are your thoughts?

Kobe:

Of course, I think that this question can go certainly one of two ways. On one hand, we have a generation, our generation, who is as involved, I'll rephrase that, we're involved and informed in a way that past generations really haven't been. You know, we're perhaps the most involved, again, to use that word again, generation decades. And these issues that we've seen in our country, in our world, we aren't just completely fenced off from them. We talk about them. We're going to get them in our schools, in social situations, and on social media. So on that hand, I do think that we are certainly empowered to affect change in our world. On the other hand, I do feel that the level of self-efficacy and political efficacy Efficacy in our generation is perhaps lower than it should be. I think that our belief in our ability to change things is lower than it was in past generations, so I do think that we are both empowered and powerless in ways.

Frederick:

Thank you for that. Very detailed. When was the first time you realized your voice had power? What do you think, Kobe?

Kobe:

Oh man, that's a crazy question. I really can't point to one time specifically, because I will say that I'm fairly new to the sphere when it comes to government and politics and really getting involved in my community. So I'll just say, I'll kind of cheat here and say that just over the past year in general, I've become aware of my ability to change things.

Frederick:

like

Kobe:

that. There's no one event I can point to.

Frederick:

And there'll be more.

Kobe:

Right,

Frederick:

absolutely. What about you? When was the first time you realized your voice had power?

Miatta:

My earliest memory would be in elementary school as a patrol. Like as a patrol, you're kind of put into a position of authority over younger kids in elementary school. So I kind of sound like I was telling these kids what to do and leading them. And that kind of that made me feel empowered. And I feel like my voice was powerful. Yeah,

Frederick:

thank you. Thank you for sharing that. Do you feel that adults use their voice in the same way?

Miatta:

Yes, I think that.

Frederick:

You think so? Yes. Yeah, I think so too. I think so too. Do you have any examples of adults that use their voice in a way, show their power in a way that inspires you or you connect to? Is there an adult that inspires you in that way, the way they use your voice?

Miatta:

I would say a current example I would give is Yaron Mamdani. His ability to reach out to the public and outreach to the community and get involved in the community is really inspiring. I see videos online. He's just talking to people on the street and doing this and that and getting involved, and that's really inspiring.

Frederick:

Yeah, especially someone so high up, right? How often do you see the mayor on the train station? What about you? Any adults that inspire you in that way?

Kobe:

I'll point to Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost. He's the first Gen Z congressman, as I'm sure you're well aware of. As far as I'm aware, he first got into politics after the Parkland shooting back in 2018, so it's definitely something different. That's very much of our time. He's very much in touch with the issues that face all Americans, really, but especially the youth. I think that he's really breaking the because I do think that a lot of times people feel as if younger people were disconnected from what's going on in our society and that's just not true. So I really do think that he is a good counter argument to that commonly held belief. So I really do admire his passion and his work and all that he does for people in his constituency and indeed for all that he does for our generation especially.

Frederick:

Appreciate that. Appreciate your answers. When I see him, people like him, even you guys, it does give me hope. I already had hope, but now I know that the future is in good hands. So what's one thing that adults can do better in terms of engagement and empowering young people? I feel like adults have all the answers, but they don't. So what's a strategy that can happen that can be done by adults? to empower you guys and to do better? I

Miatta:

think that adults can enter conversations with an open mind and not overpower the youth voices. I think that because we're young, we're told we're too unexperienced, but I think that we could work with older generations and learn from their experiences and have open conversations to mitigate that bridge between the older generations and the younger generations.

Frederick:

Can you unpack that overpower? And both of you guys can jump in. What is something that adults do to overpower the youth voice?

Miatta:

I think that older generations, they're more politically involved and we're kind of told that we don't know a lot about this and that, like the government and how everything works, but I think that if the older generations just can educate us and we can work together to empower youth voices. That would be a good solution. Okay, I like that, I like that.

Frederick:

What about you, what do you think?

Kobe:

I mean, not to get too political here and not to name any names, but I do think that people, you know, people from the silent generation, baby boomers even at this point, they really hold on to power, you know, in a way that previous generations, you would see it, certainly. And again, I'm not gonna name any names, but especially in the Senate, you know, in the 90s, 2000s, you had plenty of octogenarians, nonagenarians, one centurion, centurion? Centenarian. And even now, we see a lot of politicians and a lot of people who are leaders in their communities kind of just refuse to hand over the mantle, if you will, to the next generation. So I really do think that one thing that would really go far in ensuring that the future generations are able to be heard is just like, I don't want to say just retired person, but I don't want to say that, but I'm just saying you just have to be willing to cede power, if you will, and to just let the future come in. And another thing that I really want to say that our leaders, especially older leaders in our community, should do is just listen to us. We just want to be heard at the end of the day. If we come to town halls, if we come to debates, if we come to city council meetings, county council meetings, school board meetings, if we have something to say, the least you could do is just hear us out. Because we bring with us experiences that are different from yours. Experiences that are perhaps more relevant today than perhaps your upbringing was. And things that ultimately will shape our future. you know, our vision. So ultimately, if you're just willing to hear us out, that will go a very, very long way in ensuring that we're able to be heard. Definitely.

Frederick:

I like that. You know, it takes a lot of courage to have the initial conversation, invite people into the space to have conversations. So sometimes, as an adult, I can't speak for all, but many times they may be concerned that they can't control the narrative or the direction of the conversation because the inside that you bring may be more than what they're used to. It's different than what they're used to. And they may not have the ability to contribute or to understand where you come from. So give us some grace, too. I mean, I'm not that old, but I'm talking about all the older, older, older folks. Just kidding. So do you, is there ever a time where you feel unsafe sharing your voice? And what has that looked like, if so?

Kobe:

Maybe not unsafe per se, but you really wanna, you try to tread lightly, definitely, because there is some, living here especially is so diverse when it comes to thought, when it comes to background, when it comes to religious beliefs, some race, of course. So we wanna make sure that what say, if anything, isn't going to offend anyone that you don't mean to offend. And especially nowadays, I feel that we fail to listen to nuance and we fail to really hear the other side, if you will. So you do almost censor yourself in a way. Not necessarily insofar as you go as far to say nothing at all, but just insofar as you really just try to say the right things, if you will, for want of for want of a better word, for that.

Frederick:

Yeah. Nice, nice. What about you? Yeah,

Miatta:

I agree. Like when you're put in certain environments, you're kind of scared to speak out. Like, you know, you'll see a symbol or like a flag and it's like, you know, these people, they believe that they think a certain way and you don't want to kind of, you know, rile them up and you're trying to kind of appease them. So I think that it's hard to really fully express yourself in certain environments, because tense.

Frederick:

Yeah, it can get tense. There are a lot of touchy topics, especially in the school building, and especially in the school building in relation to what's happening in the world and in your community. So there's one quick question I'd like to ask you guys. Do you see issues around race in your school? How does it show up? And what's the strategy, if you could each name two really quickly, to address those issues? If you see any.

Kobe:

I mean, I don't see any issues, any egregious issues in my school, at least. I have seen transgressions, as you will, sometimes in my school, but definitely in others. That kind of points to the fact that we're still trying to make progress on the issue of race, certainly. But as for solutions, I would say personally, just... just don't be racist. I don't know how else to put it. There's probably a more profound way to say that, but ultimately it just comes down to making sure that you're not, you're not discriminating against other people, that you're just not saying, that you're just not offending to offend, that you're just not doing things to get attention that are racist. Ultimately it just comes down to that and just being a better person. And I'm not pointing, I'm not calling anyone out again, but, right, just, just, Just don't be racist,

Frederick:

ultimately. I love it. I love it. I have a feeling in the future you're going to be calling people out because you said that a couple times. What about you as we close out? Have you seen issues? And if so, what are things we could do better to address that?

Miatta:

I have seen issues. People say a lot of racially insensitive phrases and words. And I think how we can address those issues, we can encourage people to speak out because I know personally, honestly, when I hear someone certain things, I don't have the courage to speak out against it. But I want to build that up and be a catalyst for anti-racism and advocate for people. So I think that we should make an environment at school where we're all comfortable to speak out against bias and prejudice.

Frederick:

I love that. Thank you guys. Thank you so much. As you both know, there's probably about another 12 questions to go. I look forward to bringing you guys back to continue this conversation because I feel like we were just getting started. But thank you for your time. Looking forward to working with you throughout the summer and seeing you again.

Miatta:

Thank you. Thank

Frederick:

you.