Youth engagement in politics is necessary

By Tania Norzagaray

It is essential that youth get involved in political organizing in order to promote the development not only of their future, but their community’s future, as well. Involving oneself in politics can be daunting, especially for marginalized youth who are well aware that politics is dominated by old, wealthy white men. In addition, one of the main reasons why marginalized youth are politically disengaged is because of a lack of faith in the government—rightfully so considering that the sphere of politics is a game of white supremacy, wealth, and power. 

We will not allow our lives to become political bargaining chips that can be leveraged by these older white politicians. This is why youth engagement is essential: so that we take control and make our demands for change. Youth political organizing encompasses a wide variety of things, and it's important to note that electoral politics should not be the end-all-be-all of political organizing. There are many ways to create change without relying on the ballot box which is known to be exclusionary. 

My personal experience with political engagement is difficult yet also rewarding. It’s difficult to maintain hope in such a dismal political climate, but it's rewarding to know that I advocated for marginalized communities like my hometown of Richmond, CA. For too long, Richmond has dealt with over-policing, environmental racism, and corporate funded politicians; and Richmond deserves better. There have been strides to making things better and it’s partly because of significant youth engagement. I myself have gotten involved in advocating for more progressive policies that benefit Richmond’s marginalized communities, such as supporting politicians who successfully cut police funding. Youth engagement is necessary to make demands for our future.  Hopefully one day these changes can manifest in real and consequential ways.