America has come a long way since declaring its independence from England and establishing a new country based on such lofty ideals as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
But securing and living up to its initial promise of “justice for all” has not always been easy —and certainly not without pain and suffering, particularly for those fighting to cash the check written and signed by America’s Founding Fathers.
As freedom fights still occur, one population where prejudice continues is for older Americans.
When it comes to ageism, unlike racism or sexism, America still has a long way to go as we lag behind other leading countries on the planet.
In Japan, for example, citizens are revered for being older and wiser. In India, the elderly are cared for by their families, live in their children’s homes and are often acknowledged as the spokesperson for and head of the family. However, these ideals are not the custom in America.
A recent special produced by Scripps News assembled a seasoned group of business professionals who all agreed that the last acceptable form of prejudice in America is “age.” In fact, a poll conducted by AARP in January 2023 showed that 40 percent of Americans have experienced discrimination in the workplace.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor predicts that those 65 and older will soon represent the fastest growing group of Americans in the labor force. It’s unclear whether they will be working because they have to or because they want to. But experts say that working helps people remain healthier, maintain relationships and continue to feel a sense of usefulness.
On the other hand, those who are downsized, released or fired because of their age, have often lost their purpose in life and their identity —both of which they once enjoyed because of the job they held.
And, if you can believe it, by 2035, there will be more Americans 65 and over than those 18 and under for the first time in U.S. history.
Business leaders who examine the limits of human potential routinely suggest that age-diverse teams make better decisions. It makes sense because you have people with such a wide variety of experiences joining forces to solve or resolve a problem.
If that’s not enough, consider another fact that cannot be refuted: for the first time in U.S. history, the workforce is now composed of five generations.
Some workers may require a cane, longer breaks for lunch, chairs or desks that are easier on their backs—maybe even a larger computer screen with even larger fonts. But so what?
As older Americans continue to make up a larger and larger percentage of the population, we’d better make room for them in as many ways and in as many areas of society as possible.
We must not forget what the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) regularly declares: “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
(Reprinted from the Washington Informer)
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