The parents of today's youth marched for civil rights, protested against the Vietnam War, and began flocking to the polls for Democratic Party candidates in the 1970s and 80s. Today's black youth rally against police brutality, but lack a single unified political agenda and often tend to be apolitical. And while they may vote for the Democratic Party, younger blacks tend to favor political independence over affiliation with any party. .
While inter-generational differences complicate relations between young and old people of all races, in recent years the conflicting attitudes of African-American youth and elders have often interacted with explosive results. Older blacks often complain of younger blacks' outlook on social values, clothing, hair, music, lifestyle, family, race and career, while young blacks often see their parents' views as old-fashioned and say they feel misunderstood by seniors who lecture more than listen. Experts point out that older and younger African Americans' attitudes are a product of their respective eras. Older blacks can remember living in segregated housing, going to segregated schools, and having their career and life options limited by Jim Crow. While the younger blacks feel that they do not face many of the obstacles that their parents did. This is evident in the survey: blacks aged 18 to 34 stated that they were more optimistic about their career prospects (81.8 percent) than "baby boomers" (66.8 percent) born after World War II. .
The third kind is the generation gap among Catholics. American Catholics of all generations share essential beliefs but differ markedly along generational lines in the ways they practice their faith. .
Catholics of different ages differ widely, however, on the church's teachings about sexuality, reproductive ethics and the church's insistence on a male-only, celibate priesthood. They also differ in religious practice, with the oldest Catholics more likely than younger groups to attend Mass, pray the rosary and attend private confession.