The concept of labeling generational cohorts began in the early 1900s, when the author Gertrude Stein called the group born around the turn of the century the Lost Generation.
This was the cohort that came of age during World War I. The label was also popularized in the epigraph of Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel, The Sun Also Rises, which stated, “You are all a lost generation.”
Since then, millions of words have been written about various cohorts, beginning with the Great Generation, those who were old enough to serve in World War II, the Greatest War; the Baby Boomer Generation, those who were, for the most part, sired by fathers returning home from the war in 1945; and a whole host of subsequent generations, from Gen X to Millennial, to Gen Z.
We know a lot about their predominant characteristics and allegedly what they’ve contributed to history and society.
There is, however, a generational cohort about which little has been written. The Silent Generation, also called the Traditionalist or Builders Generation, was born roughly between 1928 and August 1945; they’re sandwiched between the Great Generation and the Baby Boomers.
Known for their discipline, traditionalism, and resilience, they were shaped by the Great Depression and World War II. They’re relatively few in number due to lower birth rates during the Great Depression and World War II, and they grew up during times of economic hardship and global conflict. Many were children during World War II and came of age in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Some of the Silent Generation were old enough for the Korean War ‘police action,’ but their first extended exposure to war was the decade-long Vietnam War. In addition, their formative years were influenced by McCarthyism, Cold War anti-Communist paranoia, economic uncertainty, and societal expectations, all of which contributed to a reputation for caution and discretion.
They are often described as people who avoid public protest and outspoken behavior, focusing instead on quietly building careers and communities. As one born near the end of this cohort, I want to go on record as taking exception to this generalization, which, like most generalizations, has a small grain of truth but is fundamentally inaccurate.
The Silent Generation was anything but silent.
We formed the core leadership of the civil rights movement, were on the forefront of the 1960s counterculture, and were the creators of rock and roll. There was nothing quiet about any of that, and it shaped the culture and society we know today.
Members of the Silent Generation contributed significantly to postwar economic recovery, social stability, and cultural innovation, often quietly doing what needed to be done and moving on to the next challenge.
Before the last of us depart the scene and leave it to the alphabet generations to keep things together, I just wanted to raise my voice and remind you of the legacy we’ll leave behind. It’s not flashy, but it provided a sound foundation upon which our successors—should they choose to do so—can build a brighter future. | NWI
