have white boomers gotten more racist as they have aged?

[pstokely]

or were they always closet racists that were radicalized by tRump or Faux State News or hate radio before he came along? will their white millennial offspring get more racist as they age? although my white boomer parents and most relatives lean to the left but they also college educated

[Funtatlaguy]

1. Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

[brush]

24. Stop this bullshit. Boomers are no less divided a generation as GenXers and...

Last edited Fri Nov 9, 2018, 02:00 AM - Edit history (1)

millennials. We are the ones who did the freedom rides and marched in the civil rights movement, stopped the Vietnam war and forced Nixon out.

Half of us were activists or activist supporters and still are, the other half were the fucking young republicans and still are repugs.

And if you think GenXers and millennials aren't a dichotomy as well, who do you think made up the 53% of white women who voted for trump in 2016 and the 70-some percent of white men who are repugs? They certainly weren't all boomers. And who the hell were those young nazis in their khaki pants and white polo shirts who marched with torches in Charlottesville?

They are millennials so stop crapping on boomers with this divisive stuff as many of us were progressives before the word was even fashionable. Plus, we're all in this together, no need to pit generations against each other. And maybe try to educate the deplorables and nazis in your own ranks. Also maybe get in the streets against trump like we did against the war, in the civil rights marches and against Nixon.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. Thank you!!

[ecstatic]

27. lol @ your last sentence!

stop crapping on boomers and try to educate the deplorables and nazis in your own ranks.

If I may chime in... Of the groups mentioned, I think GenXers are the most progressive. But, as you said, each generation has it's share of deplorables, unfortunately.

[dewsgirl]

53. As a gen Xer, I agree and thank you.

[muntrv]

104. Scott Walker and Ted Cruz are Gen Xers who are deplorables.

[marybourg]

32. I disagree with your assertion that

boomers started the civil rights movement. Martin Luter King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and John Lewis, as well as tens of thousands of civil rights activists were like my DH, a member of the so-called “greatest generation” , and like me, a member of the so-called “silent generation”.

We used to joke that boomers think they invented sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, but the joke becomes more serious when laying claim to the civil rights movement.

[brush]

38. Boomers were in the civil rights demonstrations as much as anyone.

Who do you thing were the freedom riders, and the ones who sat in at the segregated lunch counters and were at the Democratic Convention in Chicago in '68 and at Kent State?

[marybourg]

45. Yes, "as much" is a fair assertion.

But “started it” is not.

[brush]

46. Point taken.

[wasupaloopa]

82. There are no black boomers ?

[brush]

85. I am one of them. We also started the Black Students Unions on campuses...

marched in civil rights and anti-war demonstrations, were allies with the SDS and Brown Berets, chanted and worked to "Free Huey" and many were sympathizers or even joined the original Black Panthers and Black Liberation Army, so for the OP to insinuated that Boomers are all racist trumpers is highly insulting.

[samnsara]

101. great times!

.. I still have my WAZZU out pin...from my daze at Wash State University when the students were protesting some holdings/ dealings WSU had with S Africa and apartheid. .

[TuxedoKat]

116. Yes

The Silent Generation doesn't get much credit but they were in the thick of all these movements. Martin Luther King, Jr., was and Cong. John Lewis are of that generation.

[Meowmee]

43. Yep agree

Try voting more too

[brush]

44. Absolutely.

[sfwriter]

47. Doesn't hold up.

“We are the ones who did the freedom rides and started and finished the civil rights movement, stopped the Vietnam war and forced Nixon out. ”

And voted in Regan
Ushered in the Gingrich revolution
Slashed taxes
Fed the rise of right wing radio
Created the Tea Party
Elected Trump

I find Boomer memories to be selective. A lot of things had majority Boomer support. I’ve grown up in a political hellscape of boomer-fed right wing politics from Regan onward. Even as Clinton led us through years of prosperity, Boomer audiences fueled the rise of right wing media and reactionary legislative power.

Don’t take it personally. You are not the sum of your generation, but a generations outcomes can be summed.

[brush]

48. Reading comprehension problem? You missed the main point of the OP.

Half of us were activists or activist supporters and have been voting Democratic since the.

The other half were young republicans and still are repugs/deplorables.

Of all those things you mentioned there was opposition to them from half the boomers. And don't forget the previous generation who supported Reagan, et al along with the republican half of the boomers.

Get you history straight and don't think for a minute that all GenXers and millennials didn't help put trump in. 53% of white women and 70-some percent of white men voted in trump—may of them were the deplorable half of GenXers and millennials.

[sfwriter]

50. Nope

Somehow, that generation of white boomers changed. Plenty of evidence to show a sectional shift as Southern boomer racists shifted allegiences to the Republicans. You can blame “half” for all the later ills and “half” for earlier gains, but that just begs the question, where were the “good” white boomers all these years since Nixon, because I promise you we would have had Democratic majorities all along if they were around.


Generations get summed up this way in total, not piecemeal. I think your argument supports the ops proposition that something changed.

[brush]

52. You're off. Nixon and Reagan and all of them had opposition.

And you're forgetting the mostly conservative greatest generation were still the dominant body of voters for much of the time you mentioned.

And of course Carter and Clinton got elected and the House and Senate were dominated by the Democrats until the late '90s.

You'll get it straight soon.

[scarletlib]

77. Also the Silent Generation born 1928 to 1945 is largely left out of these types of discussions.

This group along with the Greatest Generation has received the most generous benefits from our country in the form of Social Security, Veterans Benefits, pensions etc. The youngest of these are, like my husband now in their middle 70's. This group which benefited greatly has been in my opinion more selfish and self centered than later generations. They are the FoxBots and senior community gated HOA especially in Florida.

It is funny how everyone forgets about them. Nixon was part of this cohort. Clinton was the first Boomer president.

[sfwriter]

134. I'm not arguing they were unapposed.

And you certainly can’t argue that civil rights and the anti war movement were not opposed by boomers as well. Plenty of young southerners harrassed those protesters. Every young redneck screaming at Black lunch counter sitters or integrated students was a Boomer as well.

The things I cited all had majority Boomer demographics. They changed American politics for the worst. You can’t dismiss them as a few college Republicans or discount them because they were opposed. That ignores the demographic power of that generation. You can’t dismiss the real harm done by that generation’s voters and leadership.

I campaigned for Clinton and loved Carter, but George W. And Donald have done more damage. The only one of them to run a balanced budget, Clinton, is swamped by endless deficits brought on by the Boomer tendency towards tax cutting and deficit spending that has swelled the debt. There are far more deficit years than balanced ones under boomer leadership.

And back to the Op, there seems to be a marked shift towards racist rhetoric which appears to win elections with a majority of white boomer support. Thankfully that’s not us, but it can’t be dismissed.

If the question is, did they turn more racist? The answer appears to be yes.

And again, the sectional shift and right wing media are at the heart of this. Both responded to the huge demand created by boomers.

Thankfully, the boomer influence is waining, and Democrats reflect the future. Overall, Democrats are young and diverse. The Republicans are old and white. The sectional hangover is waining as well as big, blue, and younger city populations purple the south.

[lark]

133. Almost all of my friends who were hippies & activists back in the day are still that way tody.

There's only a few who got rich and cared more about their $$ than the country and are now repugs. I'm also glad to say I have some friends who were apolitical when they were young and are now progressive Democrats because they saw the destruction caused by the repugs. When I went to Dem headquarters to coordinate the fight to count every vote yesterday, I was struck by the fact that all ages were represented. There were older, grey haired men & women & folks in their late teens, early 20's. One of the top trainers was an 18 year old black guy, he was awesome!

So, yes, while overall my generation may be more red, there's long been a bright blue streak running through it. I hate that so many women my age have been brainwashed by their rw churches & husbands, it really pisses me off that they don't break free. I know it's possible because I was raised in then bright red NE FL by Christian Coalition type Southern Baptists and broke free of them when I was 17 and became radicalized by a great teacher & the Viet Nam war. But far too many cling to their faith, only watch Faux Lies & believe the lies they are told.

[hlthe2b]

57. This... Brush is so right and this OP is so damned wrong.

[SammyWinstonJack]

60. +1000000!

[SergeStorms]

65. The Boomers broke two ways.

We were right on the cusp of tremendous change in this country. Some Boomers decided there was too much change going on, so they remained in their home towns and pretty much became their parents. Those are the people who exhibit the racist tendencies tRump preys upon.

The other Boomers rode the new wave of freedom - being hippies - and tuned in, turned on, and dropped out. Some a lot more than others. We're today's progressives, socialists, and some are still stoned out of their minds, riding "the wave".

This is what happened in my home town. I still see the "squares" occasionally, whenever I go back to that horrible town for something or other. I was the town's first and only "hippie" for quite a while. We'd have parties and I'd bring my Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Country Joe etc. and they'd be listening to their Beach Boys (who I really have nothing against) and stupid Pop Music by whatever was the band of the week. Not many wanted to listen to the 'San Francisco sound" bands so it was a lonely existence until we graduated in '67. Seeing what was going on in the world wouldn't allow me to become my parents and stagnate in that conservative hell-hole.

So that's my take on the Boomers. We were split into different factions, and the people who couldn't or wouldn't adapt to the times were left behind. Those are the people who never became anything but their uptight, racist parents.

[brush]

81. Thank you, SergeStorm. That's my take on it too.

We were a split generation politically and still are.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

111. Beautifully stated...

Many of my hippie cohorts left the “movement”, discovered greed and went on to be fabulous conservatives. Most identify themselves as libertarian. Pot smoking repubs.

[Stellar]

72. hear, hear!!!

Yes, we did.

[scarletlib]

74. Thanks!

We need to stop crapping on each other by generation. Plenty of racists and assholes in every generation. No one group has a lock on stupidity, cruelty and selfishness.

I am a Boomer in the older part of the cohort. My husband is part of the Silent Generation in the younger part of the cohort.

NEITHER OF US are racists. We have only gotten more liberal as we have gotten older. Believe me, there are millions of us who support liberal, progressive policies and a forward looking. Believe it or not I want my Grandchildren and all children to have a future worth living on a planet that we cherish and love.

[mantis49]

91. I agree, "Stop this bullshit"!

This boomer has become even more progressive as time goes on. Experience and age has made me more aware of the inequalities that people of color endure and have to overcome.

I get so tired of broad-brush flame-bait posts!

[ginnyinWI]

106. +1000 . nt

[spooky3]

109. +1--but one minor quibble -- the majority of white women did NOT vote for Trump per this study

http://www.people-press.org/2018/08/09/an-examination-of-the-2016-electorate-based-on-validated-voters/

the number is closer to 47%. Still way too high, but it is primarily white men as a group that put Trump into office. We know of course that white male DUers did not but if we are breaking down votes by groups, we have to get the group statistics correct. And there have been studies showing that white male millennials also support Trump or Trumpian policies at a higher rate than the OP suggests.

[brush]

113. Good points on millennials. I was speaking of white women who voted.

[spooky3]

115. Thx - did you read the study? I think it addressed that. The authors

identified "validated voters" and reported %s based on that.

[DBoon]

136. Boomers lead the modern environmental and feminist movements

Boomers played a key role in the movements for LGBT rights

Boomers marched in force against the Vietnam War. Boomers ended the military draft and created an environment where, for 20 years, the US was restrained in starting a new war

Some of us haven't changed much since then

[brush]

138. Yes, yes, yes.

[whathehell]

56. No, no, no, and no.

Stop stereotyping - It's just easy bigotry.

[leftyladyfrommo]

66. I don't think do. I am more liberal.

I am way more pro women in everything. I was raised to believe women should be subservient to men.

[Wawannabe]

2. They were brought up with labels

So many stereotypes and labels in their time. Not an excuse but a fact. I have hope it will get better because way more tolerance is taught than when Boomers came up. Each generation more tolerant

[whathehell]

51. Boomers are a large part if the reason

WHY more tolerance is now taught.

[manor321]

3. Fox News!

Don't forget Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, etc.

The toxic conservative media is, I believe, the MAIN force that has radicalized conservative whites.

[AJT]

5. Amen.

[Power 2 the People]

12. +1000

[Johonny]

123. Yeah, I think the propaganda aimed at them has clearly had an effect

There's really no argument against this. We've all seen someone radicalized by hate radio and TV.

[Blue_true]

4. I think the boomers are given too much credit.

It is a big group of self-absorbed people. A lot of the group are followers, so it is easy to change their minds if something shiny enough is put in front of them. They have been the lifeblood of republicans for the last 18 years, along with what remains of their parents.

[dawg day]

42. That doesn't sound like us.

Why stereotype? what are you gaining from that except alienating allies? I go out of my not to stereotype millennials and I teach them, so there's that easy non thinking temptation. We know no group as large as a generation can be all alike.

[brush]

87. Yet another who doesn't know what they're talking about. See post 24 below.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11399240

[Blue_true]

108. I am a younger Boomer. I know what I am talking about.

I have watched the voting patterns of people my age and had debates with them.

The simple fact is, republicans win the 50-70 group by 10-30% consistently, that group would be Boomers of all ages. So if Boomers are so daisies and cupcakes, why is that? Millennials tend to vote solidly blue, when they vote.

I don't debate that there are not a lot of flowerchild, peacenik Boomers voting straight blue, but the majority of Boomers vote hard red. I am a younger Boomer who has voted for only one republican in my life (everyone can get tricked), and regretted that vote since.

[brush]

110. The majority of white voters are trumpers. That's true, but not all boomers are white.

[Blue_true]

118. In 1968, Whites made up like 85% of the country.

The majority of Boomers are in fact very White.

Millennials are a far, far, far more diverse group racially.

[brush]

120. Not all boomers are white, nor all white boomers trumpers.

[Blue_true]

127. You're right. But the group is over 80% White.

You can't quibble with that last statistic. Millennials are a far most diverse group, end of story.

[brush]

130. Being white doesn't mean trumper though.

[Blue_true]

131. The group vote 60%+ Trumper. Tell me what that is. nt

[brush]

132. I know trump got the majority of white votes. That is a sad fact.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. I'm white. im a boomer.

Lots of people here are both. And most of us have not gotten more racist.

Just as people do not automatically get more conservative as they age, they don't necessarily get more racist. People who only watch Fox News and listen to Rush Limbaugh get more racist. They also become more ignorant simply because most of what they hear is factually untrue.

Please do not lump me with those despicables. I am not one of them.

[Hassler]

9. +1 Me neither.

[MiniMe]

21. Agree, I am both

I am certainly not conservative and I'm not racist. I don't watch Faux Noise and I don't listen to Limbaugh. I listen to the Sirius Progressive channel.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. I get really sick of these divisive comments that blame an entire age cohort

for... whatever. I'm a white boomer too, and I didn't get any more conservative in any respect as I got older - if anything, I got more liberal. And I don't recall seeing any gray hair on any of the torch-carrying neo-Nazi marchers in Charlottesville.

[dhill926]

30. what you done said...

[redwitch]

78. Thank you.

Boomer here. Raised to be a decent non racist human. My parents were successful.

[ProfessorGAC]

73. If Anything I've Gotten More Liberal

Not that i had some metamorphosis, because my first national election was a vote for Carter and i wouldn't have voted for Reagan at gunpoint.

But i feel like my social sense has become more and more liberal toward people in general.

Yeah, i loathe the people who vote for morons like the thing in the WH, but that is a specific cause.

As i got older i want fewer poor people. Never thought it was ok for us to have poor people or hungry people, now it makes me downright angry.

Most interestingly, as my retirement wealth went up, i also became more liberal. Not that i'm going to be showing up on the pages of Forbes or anything, but when taxes get raised to support social services or schools, i'm perfectly fine with that. And, being a boomer, public schools don't provide a personal benefit to us, but it benefits the greater good.

I've really become attached to those 5 words, used twice, in the Constitution. "To Promote The General Welfare". I believe that even more now than i did when i was a college kid. And i believed in it, then.

[standingtall]

7. They were always racist and have gotten more racist

as they have been radicalized by Trump,Faux news and talk radio.

[brush]

40. You don't know what you're talking about. See post 24 below.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11399240

[winstars]

8. Yes. IMHO, its inevitable...

Some people get.... selfish.

its our history in America. Whoever got here last then hates the new guys....

[whathehell]

55. Nothing is "inevitable"

in terms of political and social attitudes

My blue collar parents grew more liberal as they got older..

Sometimes people get....wise.

[dlk]

10. As a General Rule, People Tend to Become More Conservative as They Age

Many older Americans grew up in the time of segregation. Those teachings, whether they agreed with them or not, are part of their memories. Right wing hate media also has a significant impact.

[Awsi Dooger]

25. Generational imprint is more important

I have made this point countless times. Ideology is forged based on politics during the formative years, generally age 18 or thereabouts. Presidential approval at that point is a key variable. The Greatest Generation was imprinted to think Democratic and vote Democratic and always did so. That was the most pro-blue block during the Republican landslide of 1994, which makes absolutely no sense if older voters are more conservative, because they were nearing the end of their lifespan.

Once the Greatest Generation was replaced on the senior rolls by the always-red Silent Generation, then the notion that people become more conservative had a convenient reference point, because suddenly seniors were more conservative. No kidding. It could have been predicted decades earlier based on which block was going out and which one was replacing it.

Pew Research dominates everybody on studies like this. Here is a link from a few years ago:

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/09/the-politics-of-american-generations-how-age-affects-attitudes-and-voting-behavior/

The table called, "Presidential legacies..." is most instructive and very interesting.

They do note that the model works best among non-Hispanic whites. I don't doubt that. I have followed political math closely since 1992 and the Hispanic vote continues to baffle me, largely because you can't assign anything simple to it and be correct more often than not. Wild swings. Some late in a cycle, some early.

[uppityperson]

11. I certainly haven't. Lumping us all together is wrong.

[crim son]

13. I'm curious where you hang out

because I've experienced the exact opposite and you're talking about my demographic.

[Jersey Devil]

14. I am white and a boomer. I am also insulted by this OP

and the accusation that boomers are racist. I am not and never have been racist, so I don't think I have become "more racist."

Racism isn't something you are born with or determined by when you are born. You learn racism. It isn't in your blood.

Why not ask when was the last time I beat my wife? It would be the same kind of nonsensical question.

[Lunabell]

18. I'm more offended by racists than I am by this post.

Sometimes racists don't even know they're racist. N/T

[Jersey Devil]

28. and sometimes people toss bullshit because they think it doesn't smell

I have no idea what your comments mean and suspect you don't either.

[Lunabell]

34. Sorry you're having a hard time understanding

But racism offends me more than this post and the fact that some well meaning white people don't see it when they're being racist is pretty self explanatory.

[Jersey Devil]

37. Sure, Bernie proved that today, but

why would that excuse accusing people of racism simply due to their age or generation be acceptable?

[whathehell]

58. Maybe it's you who is "having a hard time understanding"

Again, one can be offended by both -- It's not an "either or" situation

Age bigotry is not competing with race bigotry. One does not justify the other...Are you getting it now?

[brush]

41. Another one who doesn't know what they're talking about. See post 24 below.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11399240

[whathehell]

54. Be offended by both..It's not an "either or " situation.

Somwtimes bigots don't know their bigots, either.

[Hassler]

15. The majority of white millennials voted Trump, so did Gen X and Boomers. White people of all ages.

White women of all ages. White men of all ages. Do you see the common denominator?

[EffieBlack]

20. Hmm. Let me see ...

Yes, yes! I see it!

[58Sunliner]

49. No, the majority of whites did not vote for Trump.

No majority voted for Trump since Trump was elected by only 26.5% of all eligible voters. Do you see how that works? It's called math. Everybody should try it. White people actually make up @67% of total population. Do the math. 8% of black men who voted, voted for Trump. Does that mean 8% of all black men voted for him? No!

[brush]

89. That post was talking about actual voters. The majority of white voter did vote for trump

That's not even in dispute.

[Celerity]

68. No they did not. Only 41% of white millennials voted for Trump

So almost 50% more of white millenials did not vote for him than did vote for him.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/12/15/racial-resentment-is-why-41-percent-of-white-millennials-voted-for-trump-in-2016/

41% is still too high but it is a much smaller percentage than older cohorts.


https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2016/11/10/the-demographic-blowback-that-elected-donald-trump/

Among votes counted at this time, exit poll show Republican Trump bested Democrat Clinton by a net of 6,414,252 votes among voters over age 45. As for voters under age 45, Clinton received a net of 6,679,191 votes more than Trump.

Although this national young/old split is fairly even, older voters made deciding numeric differences in Trump’s favor for consequential swing states, especially in the Rust Belt. This differs from the two previous presidential elections when the younger voters gave Barack Obama his wins.

The Democratic leaning young adult vote is now driven by racial minorities who made up 37 percent of voters under age 30 in the 2016 election. In contrast, whites constituted 78 percent of the voters over age 45 and 87 percent of those over age 65. On Nov. 8, whites in these age groups showed the strongest support for Donald Trump in almost every swing state that he won.

Snip

Young voters (18 to 29) are breaking for Democrats by a massive 37-point margin.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211376426

This is vastly larger than the 21-point margin by which Hillary Clinton won them 2016 and even outpaces the 22-point margin Democrats won young voters by in the huge “blue wave” of the 2006 midterms.

Snip


Assuming 3% voted 3rd party, that means we (I am a very late millennial, 22yo, 23 in December) voted roughly 67% for Democratic candidates, 30% for Republicans.

[sl8]

83. 2016 exit poll by age/race

The Brookings' article in your post uses CNN's 2016 exit polls as their source:

https://edition.cnn.com/election/2016/results/exit-polls/national/president

Excerpted from that link:

[obamanut2012]

70. None of that is true

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Oy.

[Demonaut]

17. of course

[Garrett78]

19. A staggeringly high percentage of white Americans believed in the early 1960s...

...that racism was basically a non-issue, that Black children and white children had equal educational opportunity, etc. And this was before passage of civil rights legislation.

The bottom line is that a majority of white Americans have always been quite racist, especially older white folks. And there can be little doubt that right wing media has made the problem even worse.

Absent racism, there is no viable Republican Party.

[oasis]

22. Boomers were brought up during a time when America valued education.

They are not so easily fooled. You don't start unlearning stuff as you grow older.

[nini]

31. most of the ones I know have become more tolerant

But I grew up in a very diverse area and still live in one.

God knows there are plenty of white assholes in this country.

[Progressive Jones]

33. I'm a guy who is 59 years old. I have friends that go back to childhood.

Many of those lifelong friends have definitely become racist.
I can't explain why. We all grew up in a racist environment, but we all eschewed that in our youth.
We knew people of other races, and had friends of other races.
Now, like I said, many of my old friends have slipped into common, ignorant racism.
If I were just meeting these people for the first time, at this point in my life, we would never be friends.

[UniteFightBack]

35. Racism spans the generations....that is plain to see. nt

[Kahuna7]

128. Yep. I'm on twitter and see a lot of millennial and gen z folks...

who believe in the trickle down theory when it comes to advancement for POC. They want to be centered and believe once they're taken care of POC can have the dregs.

[world wide wally]

36. Ever heard of hippies?

You're welcome

[Lunabell]

39. This white baby boomer has no answers.

But, many white people don't even see their own racism even when it pokes them in the nose. Even right here on this forum. I see it. Some are more subtle than others, "I'm not a racist..." If you start with that, then yeah, usually you are...

[Jspur]

59. As one of the older millennials

who is now 35 I will say this that I believe this is more of a race issue than a generation issue. First a little bit about me is that I was born in the US to two Indian immigrant parents from India. One thing I have noticed as I have gotten older is that I have seen a lot of white males in my age range become republicans versus men of color. I would say the only reason why the millennial generation is always going to be a blue voting block is because around 40 some percent of us are not white. Also factor in you will always get at least around 40 some percent white millennials to vote democratic and hence why slightly over 50 percent of millennials will always vote Dem.

[cwydro]

61. Oh good lord.

Maybe you should watch the footage of Charlottesville sometime.

Those dudes with the Walmart tiki torches weren’t boomers lol.

[True_Blue]

62. As a white boomer, I often wonder that myself

I remember the 60s & 70s when there were hippies, Woodstock, massive protests against the Vietnam war, against Nixon, for civil rights, for women's rights... What ever happened to all of those people? Did they all die and only the assholes lived on or did they somehow morph into Trump humpers?

[brush]

93. Many of us stayed true to our politics. Some became trumpers...

that how it is with all generations. The OP is bullshit and ignores the fact that those young nazis marching with cheap torches in Charlottesville were millennials.

[loyalsister]

63. That's kind of like asking if Southerners are more racist than northerners

I'm a gen Xer, my understanding of white supremacy and racial oppression has changed - especially in recent years. Many of my age peers and predessors have not challenged their thinking about racism. I've talked with a lot of people who abhor malicious racial bigotry but still are willing to forgive and make excuses for casual racism. "That's just how it was back then". "They grew up in a different time," "That's not how they meant it when they used that word"
The tendency to dig in and refuse to question what they know about it isn't outward bigotry, but it does reveal a level of comfort with white supremacy and a willingness to help protect it. I wouldn't say they have changed so much as they decided long ago that they know it when they see it and have done their part without listening to find out if they missed something. That has allowed it to fester while white people claimed to be colorblind and part of a post-racial society.
It's more white people specific than generational. But, there is a tendency of some who are older to not admit that we have some of the same dirt on our shoes as the most hateful elements. Intentions aside, lack of awareness, defensiveness, and denials definitely prop up white supremacy.
Racism without malice is real and can be at least as damaging as what is easier to recognize.

[violetpastille]

135. +1

[area51]

64. "have white boomers gotten more racist as they have aged?"

Not this boomer. Frustrating to see some people paint boomers with a broad brush.

[democratisphere]

67. Yes. Watched it happen to my mother as she got older.

It was disgusting and disgraceful!

[brush]

95. That was your mother, not all boomers by any means.

[obamanut2012]

69. MIne have become waaaay more liberal, but they do not listen to hate radio

Watch Fox News, or read wingnut books or subreddits. All of my aunts and uncles, and my parents' friends do watch Fox News, etc., and they have turned into raging spitraging wingers.

[sinkingfeeling]

71. No.

[scarletlib]

75. So this is a flame bait thread. Why?

[Demwolv]

76. It's almost as if...

Boomers are offended when someone points out something wrong with their generation.

Take note how you feel now and realize that's how Millennials feel when Boomer's attack and berate us. We're trying here and we DID show up in this election and look what happened.

Stop the generation blaming. We all make shitty choices.

[crazycatlady]

94. this

I'm a Xennial (1980 so I don't fit into either generation). I'm sick of the Boomers on this forum blaming millennials for Trump.

[Demwolv]

98. Exactly

and how quickly they forget that we gave them Obama because we showed up in spades.

[Guilded Lilly]

79. Racism is not an age thing. It is a soul thing...

Facts: Boomers were young. Millennials will age.
Everyone makes choices based on their particular life experiences and psyches, not their birthdates.

Take personal responsibility for your thoughts and actions.
Period.

[apnu]

80. No. As we age we care less and less about social rules

All that "I'm too old for this stuff" you see in the above 50 set.

The racist ones were always racist, they don't care who sees it now. The non racist ones (hippies for example who are all Boomers), are more outwardly liberal by equal measure.

Racism is taught, at a young age and it stays with us through out our lives.

[wasupaloopa]

84. Can you at least admit the there are white boomers

who are not racists?

If not your OP is a waste of time.

[Demit]

86. "my white boomer parents and most relatives lean to the left but they also college educated."

You college educated too?

[rampartc]

88. Probablynot

The racist boomers probably started out that way.

Those that watch the wrong news station probably get worse.

[lancelyons]

90. No not all of us.

[Autumn]

92. Not any that I know. YMMV.

[mcar]

96. This one hasn't

[ananda]

97. Yes

Not all of us though!!!

[ismnotwasm]

99. I find that most white peoples don't understand racism

So one segment isn’t necessarily “more” racist than another. My Dad raised me using racial epithets, but he stopped those the last say, 20 years of his life for the most part. It was progress, but he was still a fucking racist

[samnsara]

100. not me..nor my hubby nor many of my boomer friends...

[PubliusEnigma]

102. Yes, they long for the ignorant bliss of old where you weren't judged for your racism.

[beachbum bob]

103. gotta figure 30-35% of america are bigots/racists. They been "hiddeN", not every GOP'er is a racist

they do all share some same concerns and positions on issues.

[ginnyinWI]

105. No, I have gotten more liberal.

I was born in 1952. College educated and white.

The ones are racist now always were. They are just emboldened. I don't see how you can become more racist as you age. Maybe more fiscally conservative. But experience broadens a person.

We just read that an increased number of us voted Dem this time because Turtleface made some statements about taking away Social Security and Medicare.

[MineralMan]

107. I am a white boomer. I am not a racist.

I have never been a racist.

You're way off base on this. It has nothing to do with age at all.

[Soxfan58]

112. I don't think so

I was brought up in a racist household. They thought blacks should stay in their own place, and relatives cracked racist jokes.
It wasn't until I had kids that my eyes and my heart saw how wrong they were. My kids did not see black and white, they saw playmate, friends. I guess a lot of white people my age are trying to carry on those horrible Ideals. Maybe someday their eyes and hearts will be open, but don't count on it.

[spooky3]

114. None of us are 100% free from racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.

We have all been influenced by our environment all our lives.

The goals is to get closer to the non-racist end of the continuum.

[vlyons]

117. I'm a white boomer

up until a year ago, I lived in east Texas, the belt buckle of the Bible belt. I'm a liberal, always have been (I'm 71). It's not just the aging boomers, who are racists. Racism seems to span all ages. In east Texas, the racism was so thick that you could cut it with a butter knife. I think that Obama really scared a lot of white racists. One day, they looked up, and the imaginable had happened -- there was a black man in the WH! And he was popular too! And accomplished and smart. I can't begin to tell you how many of my white rural neighbors held deep condescending fears and mistrust of blacks and Hispanics. These are people, who have put their kids in all white Christian schools. Except for enlisting in the military, they have never socialized with minorities, never been anywhere, never experienced a different culture. These are people, who have told me to my face that they would NEVER invite an AA into their home as a dinner guest. I have heard "jokes" about how funny it would be to run over a black road worker. Needless to say, they have no shame using the N-word, and deeply resent anyone's expectation for them not to indulge in politically incorrect speech about race. There is a deep, deep dark ignorance, and they don't want to hear, can't hear another point of view.

And they raise their children to think and act the same. What is the essential fear that drives all this? I lived in Calif for over 30 years amidst wide multiculturalism. I worked with, socialized with, lived amongst people, who were multi-racial and multi-cultural. Public school kids there in Calif have friends, date, marry, and start families with people of different races. It's no big deal.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

119. I think the ones that are that way have always been that way

and now they are just emboldened to be outspoken about their racism because of Trump. They were always quietly racist.

[struggle4progress]

121. Get Together

[TNLib]

122. Yes

My parents have. They are now in their 70's. They are also prone to forget just about anything and can no longer do the type of work they use to do because of cognitive decline. It's not to the point that they have senility. They can still function in their homes and hold simple retail jobs. But they seem to lack any serious critical thinking skills and you can't really hold an intelligent conversation about current events.

They seem afraid of anyone different than them now and their friends are the same way. They use to not be like that.

[struggle4progress]

124. Birmingham Sunday

[struggle4progress]

125. Blowing in the wind

[johnp3907]

126. Anecdotal evidence is the only way to know.

[struggle4progress]

129. Here's to the state of Misssippi

[Johnny2X2X]

137. YES!

Here's their deal, about half of them have been raging racists the whole time, but kept quiet because they were shamed. But then we got a black president, they had no idea that blacks would take their equality so far. And Obama was smarter, better looking, and more competent than anyone before him and that absolutely drove them nuts.

[Hoyt]

139. Have definitely become more bigoted/racist toward ignorant, vile, hateful white wingers. n/t