From Protest to Power: A Boomer’s Guide for the Next Generations to Challenge Authority

Hello, Lead Like Big Mama friends, remember to book your space

for Start Grant Writing! Also visit Big Mama’s Playbook for grant

opportunities! And now, to this week’s post… My college years, it was the early 70s; a time when the Boomer generation born around 1946-1964, were the true rebels. A time when as young people, we marched in the streets, fists raised, chanting for civil rights, women's liberation, and an end to unjust wars. Boomers boycotted, sat in, walked out, and literally put their bodies on the line because they believed in something bigger than themselves. They questioned authority. Back then, Boomers demanded accountability from all levels of their government, from corporations, from institutions that claimed to serve the people.

Yet something unexplainable has happened to some Boomers over time; these movements

from the ‘60s & 70s are just faded memories. The young rebels have grown up. They’ve settled into leadership, power, and influence. Some have forgotten what it was like to be young and outraged. Now many as leaders, their political circle of influence seems to be akin to what’s called “groupthink” and goes polar opposite to the “question authority” principle.

Groupthink is when everyone in the group starts thinking the same way, at least openly

anyway, to the point where they stop questioning ideas, decisions, or even the direction of the organization. It’s like this convenient, expedient, almost clannish “meeting of minds”. In its simplest form, groupthink occurs when people are more concerned with consensus than with speaking their minds or suggesting alternative viewpoints. It can create an environment where dissent is seen as disloyalty or negativity. People start holding back their true feelings.

You’ve probably seen it play out in meetings- look for clues like when people feel too

agreeable, nodding their heads in sync without hesitation, or even worse, when you notice

decision-making is overly quick and unanimous. Classic movies like 12 Angry Men and The

Matrix explore the psychology of groupthink.

“Question authority” isn’t just a phase or a catchy phrase - it’s a responsibility.

Now, we see younger generations- Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z facing their own battles:

racial injustice, economic inequality, climate change, political corruption, and attacks on

democracy itself. And yet, some of today’s leaders, many are Boomers, and even Silent

generation members, now in their nineties, seem to bristle at the very resistance they once

embodied. Some call today’s young activists (those under the age of 45-ish) as “too idealistic,” “too radical,” “woke” or dismiss them as uninformed. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that questioning authority is not only necessary, it’s how progress happens and it’s slow.

This rebel Boomer/Big Mama has gone from the streets to the boardroom! To my younger

leaders, do not remain silent. Don’t allow groupthink to stop you from questioning authority

by remaining silent. If your Boomer leaders of today have forgotten, then the next generations must remind them, or essentially as Big Mama would coin it, “keep them in check”– be smart about it! So here are five ways younger leaders can push back on this groupthink mentality and hold today’s power structures accountable:

• Demand Transparency and Accountability

  Boomers fought for truth during Watergate, for fair representation during the Civil Rights Movement, and for justice during Vietnam. Younger leaders can take a page from that same playbook. Engagement with elected officials is critical. You’ve got to show up at meetings, call out misinformation, expose hypocrisy. Don’t just make calls elected representatives, call ALL of them, especially if they’re a Boomer!
  

• Leverage Economic Power

  The Montgomery Bus Boycott wasn’t just a protest - it was economic warfare. Today, young people can use their massive buying power. When money moves, power listens. It’s all about that money green. The R&B group The O’Jays song, “For the Love of Money” gives clues!
  

• Master the System to Beat the System

  Protests are powerful, but policies make lasting change. One of the biggest mistakes activists can make is rejecting the system entirely. Instead, they must infiltrate it- gain your seat at the table. Run for office. Sit on local boards. Learn, share and communicate the language of law and at how the government works. Many Boomers did this and reshaped the world of politics and civil rights. Now, it’s time for the next wave to take the reins. Knowledge is power. Bring back Schoolhouse Rock! Remember “I’m Just a Bill”?
  

• Control the Narrative

  The Vietnam War protests succeeded, in part, because young Boomers controlled the story-through music, independent media, and grassroots networks (the civil rights movement didn’t start with a text message). And today, you’ve got digital platforms!
  

• Build Intergenerational Alliances

  Not every Boomer has forgotten their roots. Some still believe in the power of protest, in pushing for progress. Seek out and collaborate with those wise elders, as mentors, consultants and coaches who still remember what it means to fight. Together, they can bridge the gap between past movements and future victories. Listen and learn from this history and gain that wisdom. Use the Building Movement Project for inspiration. Keep asking questions…

Weekly wisdom, in their own words:

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any....”

- Alice Walker (b. 1944)

Book now! Let’s chat for a 1-hour brainstorming/thought-partnering session! It’s FREE!

Don’t forget…check out Big Mama’s Playbook! Register for the Start Grant Writing series!

Sharing is caring. Will you share this resource to help build a community of servant leaders!