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Silent Generation is a term coined in the November 5, 1951 cover story of Time to refer to the generation coming of age at the time, born during the Great Depression. The article, (which defined the generation at the time as born from 1923 to 1943), found its characteristics as grave and fatalistic, conventional, possessing confused morals, expecting disappointment but desiring faith, and for women, desiring both a career and a family.[1] The article stated:
Youth today is waiting for the hand of fate to fall on its shoulders, meanwhile working fairly hard and saying almost nothing. The most startling fact about the younger generation is its silence. With some rare exceptions, youth is nowhere near the rostrum. By comparison with the Flaming Youth of their fathers & mothers, today's younger generation is a still, small flame. It does not issue manifestoes, make speeches or carry posters. It has been called the "Silent Generation."
The phrase gained further currency after William Manchester's comment that the members of this generation were "withdrawn, cautious, unimaginative, indifferent, unadventurous and silent." The name was used by Strauss and Howe in their book Generations as their designation for that generation in the United States of America born from 1925 to 1941.[2] The generation is also known as the Postwar Generation and the Seekers, when it is not neglected altogether and placed by marketers in the same category as the G.I., or "Greatest", Generation. In England they were named the Air Raid Generation as children growing up amidst the crossfire of World War II.
Silent Generation members are generally the offspring of The Lost Generation and the parents of Generation Jones as well as the Generation Xs.
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Demographic justification
It must be noted that the lowest birth year from 1929-1945 in the US was 1944 and 1945.[citation needed]. And as a result of the World War II—the US birth rate in 1945 was almost as low as 1944's[citation needed]. However, children born during 1942-1945 for some reason seem to be excluded by many demographers[who?] from this Silent Generation as they did not actually grow up during the Great Depression and generally part of the Baby Boom Generation.
This generation is comparatively small when compared to the surrounding generations because people had fewer children in the 1920s and 1930s, in response to financial and global insecurity. As a result, members of the Silent Generation were uniquely poised to take advantage of economic opportunities, thanks to the reduced competition. Many of them went on to harness the scientific and technological advances of the Second World War, developing innovative inventions which laid the groundwork for even more technological progress in the late 20th century.
Silent or not?
Describing this generation as the “Silent Generation” is a bit of a misnomer. In fact, many revolutionary leaders in the civil rights movement came from the Silent Generation, along with a wide assortment of artists and writers who fundamentally changed the arts in the United States. The Beat Poets, for example, were members of the Silent Generation, as were Martin Luther King and Gloria Steinem. Most rock stars of the 60s were of the Silent Generation, not the Boomers as some believe (most sources cite the Boomers beginning in 1942)[citation needed]. Even if the cut-off for the Silent Generation was 1943 it would still contain bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, as well as rock stars such as Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin in the Silent Generation. Elvis Presley was also of this generation, as were some of the most famous movie stars of all time such as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.
In Latin America, this Generation was known to produce many salsa artists such as Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Cheo Feliciano, Louie Ramirez, Bobby Cruz, Celia Cruz, Tommy Olivencia, Larry Harlow, Chamaco Ramirez, Paquito Guzman, Pellin Rodriguez, Pete El Conde Rodriguez, Roberto Roena, Adalberto Santiago, La Lupe, Yomo Toro, Bobby Valentin, Ismael Rivera, Ismael Quintana, Willie Rosario and El Gran Combo. The majority of this generation formed Fania All Stars when it began in 1968.[citation needed] Only Ismael Miranda, Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe were Baby Boomers at the time of its foundation.
However, the term “Silent Generation” is not wholly inappropriate. While some members of the Silent Generation did become outspoken activists, many were also quiet, hardworking people who focused on getting things done and advancing their careers, even as they struggled with what to do with their lives. For example, using the Strauss and Howe definition, no US President has come from the Silent Generation, and the only ones from the generation to even run for President were John McCain,Michael Dukakis and Rev Jesse Jackson . However this generation were the first to go to the moon as the Astronauts from the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing were from this generation. This generation contributed a lot in African American music, like soul music and rhythms & blues, producing singers like Ray Charles, Little Richard, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, guitarist BB king, producer Quincy Jones, and Tina Turner. However, many were singers and activists during the 1960s.
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