Age of Relevance –We are nowhere near finished here.

There are those among us who are determined to achieve, to bring value — right through to the end of their lives. Having considered the thoughts below for years, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing makes me see the responsibilities of our age.

In the 1930’s John Langston, my father, stood in breadlines in Chicago with his older brothers and ultimately his family lost their home to the Great Depression. In late 1941 John was coming out of bootcamp not long before war broke out in the Pacific. In January he shipped out. After 42 months fighting in campaigns from Guadalcanal to the Philippines, John was honorably discharged from his position as a heavy machine gun Section Leader. A bloody and debilitating tour of duty for anyone. He came home with malaria, dysentery, and other challenges, still eager to have a career. John’s dream was to become an illustrator. Commitment carried him to success in Commercial Illustration in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. He was also a kind and instructive father, and an egalitarian. At 55 at the peak of his career he died from health problems stemming from his service to his country.

My mother Estelle Jones Langston lost her father when she was 13 and helped to raise her younger siblings. Her second son, my brother Mark, had Asperger’s. Estelle made a home for herself and for Mark well into her nineties. That support helped Mark to work and to contribute his entire adult life. Estelle honored her own dreams and became an adept poet and water colorist in her 70’s & 80’s.

John and Estelle met responsibilities. They gave and they grew. They “Paid it Forward”. As coined by Tom Brokaw, they were part of “The Greatest Generation,” and certainly not unique to that amazing group of people.

The Pendulum Swings

So, what about me? What about us — the “Baby Boomers” — the children of these great people? What’s our story? Our parents left us a legacy of almost selfless contribution. Have we lived up to that legacy? Or has a lot of time sailed by and here we are? I believe some of us can say they got it done. Many of us are still doing. Many more of us must say we can do more.

Our parents paid their dues early, from childhood through their middle years. Some their whole lives. I have often wondered what might come to pass in the later years of our lives. As part of some great pendulum swing would we, having harvested good times early, meet great challenge in this our Act III? What might come undone?

Now, confronted with this pandemic, resounding awareness of ongoing social injustice, and other looming global challenges, I believe the answer, and our assignment, is here before us.

Maintaining Relevance

In 2011, I read an interview with the great running back Jim Brown. His thoughts really stuck with me. Brown (who had to overcome serious challenges of his own in his 60’s) spoke in a straightforward way about the importance of man’s humanity to man, following principles, and integrity. When asked “How should a man handle getting older?” Brown said, “Main thing is, never let age take away your relevance.”(1)

I marvel at stories of how active and relevant some older American leaders have been. Many felt responsibility to bring value throughout their lives. Maya Angelou, the celebrated American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist was deeply involved and sought for her wisdom throughout her life. She delivered valuable opinion and influence into her 80’s, lecturing up to 80 times a year.(2) In his seventies Red Cloud, or Mahpíya Lúta, the great chief of the Ogala Lakota made his third trip as an elder, from South Dakota to Washington, D.C. to campaign for better living conditions for his people.(3) He fought for his people and he stood as a symbol of strength until his death at 87 in 1909 and beyond.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Justice Ginsburg, the “Notorious RBG” spent her entire adult life protecting women’s rights and advancing justice for those disenfranchised by the political establishment.(4) At 66, in the midst of increasing illness, Justice Ginsburg sought out fitness and nutrition solutions to improve her strength and resilience and most importantly her ability to continue on with her cause. She was still leading, and working out, until shortly before she passed on September 18th. These Americans, and many more, fought for their cause and maintained their relevance late in life.

We are nowhere near finished here.

Today’s sweeping challenges are our opportunity to step up; to leave this country in better shape. Perhaps not better than we found it. We have allowed a lot not to happen. But better than today. The events of 2020 have torn the cover off deep-seated American problems. As we enter our Act III our country is not doing well. We have responsibilities here.

We, the Baby Boomers, can do a lot more. As we live longer we need to strive to achieve ever-better health and acuity, to minimize our burden on society, to be a positive influence through these times. Maintaining our “relevance” means choosing to grow, to contribute and to give back for years to come.
I believe these are our responsibilities — even if the pandemic were not breaking the bank.

We have a mountain to know and to champion, from the foresight and leadership of women, to the energy and insights people of diverse origins bring to every effort, to the disruption of systemic challenges. We have honesty to attend to. We must regroup, search for new truths and continue to work and to contribute despite any pushback we encounter. We can bring our hearts, minds and health to bear on today’s cultural and environmental strife. We can be a more relevant.

We will be known for what we do last — LANGSTON

Foot note: I and others will be contributing to this Journal designed to address our Act III Relevance, the means to keep our mission clear and our engines running. D.W. Langston. Langston is a Communications Strategist, active in non-profit work and a foster father.

Sources:
(1) Men’s Journal — September, 2011 — <https://www.mensjournal.com/sports/life-advice-from-jim-brown-w442619/>; Wikipedia.
Author’s note: Brown had served time (which he freely admitted was due) when he took this interview. His candor about his mistakes made his statements even more credible to me.

(2) Wikipedia, Maya Angelou — “Later career”

(3) True West November 23, 2015; Wikipedia, Red Cloud — “His Last Days”

(4) The New York Times; Sept. 18, 2020, Updated Sept. 24, 2020, ”Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court’s Feminist Icon, Is Dead at 87” — by Linda Greenhouse.