Fifteen-year-old Jett James Pruitt Named With Greta Thunberg, Jamie Margolin, Jerome Foster and Others as Leaders of Generation Z.
Generation Z is the youngest, most politically active, ethnically-diverse and largest generation in American history—comprising 27% of the US population.
Pew Research recently defined Gen Z as anyone who was born after 1997, and other research groups define it as anyone alive today between the ages of 8 and 23.
Gen Z is unique in that they learned about sensitive topics such as sex abuse, drug addiction, divorce, abortion, pornography, conspiracy theories, and dirty politics at a much earlier age than any generation before it.
In other words, Gen Z grew up without the ignorant bliss of an innocent childhood, and it shows.
Unlike the Millennial Generation before it, Gen Z was raised with full access to technology and information since birth, leading to the stereotype of easily-offended, tech-addicted, anti-social, "social justice warriors" who will protest anything at the drop of a hat.
Whether we like it or not, this politically active generation will be the future citizens of the world. And the following individuals are just a few of the future leaders of Generation Z: Greta Thunberg, Jett James Pruitt, Jamie Margolin, David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, and Jerome Foster II.
* Article Originally Published on November 10, 2020 by Best Political Authors. Reprinted with Permission.
WHO ARE THE LEADERS OF GENERATION Z?
GRETA THUNBERG, 17
Born January 3, 2003, Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg is an internationally known Swedish environmental activist who began her activism by missing school to protest what she perceives is the inaction and/or insufficient response of governments and the business sector to the United Nations Paris Agreement on climate change.
Most notably, Thunberg was named Time's Person of the Year in 2019.
In addition to her environmental work, Thunberg was credited with raising awareness about Asperger Syndrome and inspiring those who had the disorder. “I have Aspergers and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And—given the right circumstances—being different is a superpower.”
Her first book NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE (2019) is a collection of her speeches. Her second book OUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE (2020) was co-written with her family.
JETT JAMES PRUITT, 15
Born May 25, 2005, Jett James Pruitt is an American author, speaker, journalist and political strategist. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the political news website, TheGenZPost.com.
Traditionally published at age 14, Yahoo! News calls him "the most powerful political voice of Generation Z."
As a Native American progressive conservative he may be the only non-Democrat listed here, but his mission of expanding the party's views on minimum wage, climate change, healthcare and inclusivity, as well as his proposed economic policy of "smart capitalism," has garnered massive attention from politicians, economists, and financial news outlets worldwide.
His first book THROUGH THE EYES OF A YOUNG AMERICAN (2020) was a bestseller in politics and has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. His second book THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE is scheduled for release late 2021.
Pruitt is a strong advocate for Freedom of Speech and vows to fight against 'Cancel Culture' and censorship at all levels.
"The Republican Party must grow by appealing to more younger voters or it will die. I hope to be the leader of that change, and help Generation Z understand why progressive and conservative ideals are not always mutually exclusive."
JAMIE MARGOLIN, 19
Born December 10, 2001, Jamie Margolin is an American climate change activist and the co-executive director of Zero Hour. Margolin identifies as a lesbian and speaks openly about her experiences as an LGBTQ person. She has written for various media outlets, such asCNNandHuffington Post.
At age 15, Margolin founded the youth climate action organization Zero Hour with Nadia Nazar. She serves as the co-executive director of the organization. Margolin's first book YOUTH TO POWER (2020) hit #1 in Youth Politics on Amazon.
In September 2019, Margolin was part of a youth group that sued Governor Jay Inslee and the State of Washington over greenhouse-gas emissions in the state. Margolin claims, "There is a crisis happening, but no action is being taken. This organization is a non-profit international organization whose goal is to educate people about the climate crisis and get more people involved in activism."
DAVID HOGG, 20
Born April 12, 2000, David Miles Hogg is an American gun control activist and student who survived the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. He is a student at Harvard University and was included in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018.
After the school shooting, Hogg emerged as a leader in the 2018 United States gun violence protests. Along with Alfonso Calderon, Sarah Chadwick, Emma González, Cameron Kasky and other students to voice his opinion on gun control and gun violence. With his sister, Lauren Hogg, he wrote the book NEVER AGAIN: A NEW GENERATION DRAWS THE LINE (2018). He states that he is a supporter of the Second Amendment and supports NRA members' right to own guns legally, saying his goals are "Raising the federal age of gun ownership and possession to the age of 21; banning all bump stocks; making sure that we have universal background checks; making sure that people that have committed acts of domestic violence are no longer able to get a gun... and making sure that people with a criminal history and a history of mental illness are not able to obtain these weapons of mass destruction."
EMMA GONZALEZ, 21
Born November 11, 1999, Emma González is an American activist and advocate for gun control. As a high school senior she survived the Valentine's Day Shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and in response co-founded the gun-control advocacy group Never Again MSD.
González gave a viral speech against gun violence, proclaiming "We call B.S." on the lack of action by politicians funded by the NRA. Subsequently, González continued to be an outspoken activist on gun control, making high-profile media appearances and helping organize the March for Our Lives.
Speaking at the demonstration, González led a moment of silence for the victims of the massacre; she stood on stage for six minutes, which she observed was the length of the shooting spree itself.
González was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. She identifies as bisexual. According to Vogue, her buzz cut is not a reaction to the school shooting, but rather to Florida's climate.
JEROME FOSTER II, 18
Born May 9, 2002, Jerome Foster II is an American voting rights advocate and climate change activist.
Foster is the executive director of OneMillionOfUs; an international youth voting and advocacy organization. Foster is known for delivering passionate speeches advocating for the use of intergovernmental unity and climate justice as a means to help mitigate climate change in accordance to the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming and the Green New Deal Resolution.
He is also known for wearing a bright-blue earth shirt that says "Think Globally, Bike Locally" on the front and "One Less Car" on the back made by the company, Specialized Inc. Foster has led three social impact and technology ventures: TAU VR, The Climate Reporter, and OneMillionOfUs.
Foster has helped to organize three of the top ten largest climate marches across the Washington, D.C. area and has spoken at the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights in April 2019 and the United Nations Youth Climate Summit in September 2019.
He gained international recognition after being the first consecutive climate striker in Washington DC and being interviewed by Former Vice President Al Gore at the Atlanta Climate Reality Leadership Training in March 2019.
"I believe in the fact that Civil Rights are Human Rights and Human Rights are Environmental Rights, it is a right for my generation to have clean air, clean water and no pollution."
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