Society in Flux

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

Alright, folks, welcome back to The New Sentinel. Frank here, and today we're diggin’ into the big shifts that’ve been shaking up society these last few years. Now, I know we’ve all seen headlines—protests, court rulings, all that—but let’s walk through what’s really been goin’ on since, say, 2020. Y’all remember the George Floyd protests? That was a spark, not just here in the States, but all over. And then, you got the Supreme Court overturnin’ Roe v. Wade, which, well, that’s a whole can of worms for gender rights. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ folks have been seein’ both wins and some real tough setbacks—like, job protections one year, then anti-trans laws and censorship the next. It’s like we’re takin’ two steps forward, one step back, sometimes more. Evie, you wanna jump in on how all this feels from the ground up?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Oh, for sure, Frank. It’s like, every time we get a little progress, there’s this big ol’ pushback. I mean, the UN says we’re still over a hundred years away from gender parity—can you believe that? And, like, after Roe v. Wade got reversed, it felt like a lotta folks just lost hope. But then, you see these grassroots groups poppin’ up, doin’ mutual aid, organizing marches, just tryin’ to keep the fire burnin’. But, honestly, there’s a lotta performative allyship out there—companies makin’ statements, but not changin’ much. Sometimes it feels like folks are just tired, you know? Chijioke, what’s your take on this resistance and fatigue thing?

Chijioke Eze

Evie, you are right. Fatigue is real. In Nigeria, we say, “When the drum beats too long, even the dancers get tired.” After the big protests, you see people—especially young people—feeling like nothing changes. The Pew numbers show most Black Americans doubt racial equality will ever come. And with LGBTQ+ rights, so many countries are rolling back protections. But, I think, when formal systems fail, people turn to their own communities. Frank, you once set a safety precedent on your rig, yes? That’s grassroots justice—when the system won’t protect you, you protect each other. But, Carlos, do you think activism is still working, or are we just spinning our wheels?

Carlos Estevez

Yeah, Chijioke, I mean, I see both sides. There’s definitely a lot of burnout—like, people are tired of fighting the same fights, especially when you see DEI programs getting rolled back and all these laws popping up that just make things harder. But, at the same time, I see a lot of local wins, you know? Like, smaller groups making real changes in their neighborhoods, even if the big picture looks rough. I guess the question is, how do we keep that momentum going when the system keeps pushing back? Frank, you ever feel like you’re just patching leaks instead of fixing the whole pipe?

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

Oh, all the time, Carlos. Out on the rigs, if the company wouldn’t fix a safety issue, we’d just handle it ourselves—sometimes with duct tape, sometimes with a little more muscle. But you gotta keep at it, even when you’re bone-tired. I reckon that’s what a lotta folks are doin’ now—just keepin’ each other safe, one day at a time. Y’all still with me, or did I lose ya in the weeds?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

We’re with you, Frank! And I think that’s a good way to look at it—just keepin’ each other safe, even when the big systems let us down. But, you know, that brings up another big piece of this puzzle: who’s got the power to make those changes, and who’s still waitin’ for a seat at the table?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

So, let’s talk about these generational shifts. Like, Boomers still holdin’ more than half the wealth in the U.S.—that’s wild, right? Meanwhile, Gen Z and even Gen Alpha are out here, organizing, protesting, tryin’ to get a foothold in a world where jobs and housing are, well, kinda outta reach. I remember after that big flood back home, I was just a kid, but I organized a cookout for the neighborhood. We didn’t have much, but we had each other, and that’s what got us through. Sometimes, it’s the young folks who gotta step up when the old ways just aren’t workin’. Chijioke, you seein’ that where you are?

Chijioke Eze

Yes, Evie. In my village, the elders hold the land, the money, the stories. But the young ones—they are restless. They want change now, not in twenty years. In America, Boomers have 52% of the wealth, but the youth are the ones pushing for new ideas—co-living, policy labs, even wealth redistribution. Sometimes, the old guard resists, but the river does not stop for the stone. Carlos, do you think these youth-led movements can really shift power, or is it just noise?

Carlos Estevez

I think it’s more than noise, Chijioke. I mean, look at how fast Gen Z mobilizes online—one minute it’s a meme, next minute it’s a movement. But, yeah, the numbers don’t lie: student debt’s up, housing’s outta reach, and a lot of young people feel like the system’s rigged. Still, I see hope in these new models—like intergenerational councils and co-living setups. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. Frank, you’ve seen a few generations come and go—what’s your take on all this?

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

Well, Carlos, I’ll tell ya, every generation thinks the one before ‘em is stuck in the mud, and the one after ‘em is runnin’ wild. But I do see somethin’ different now—these young folks, they’re not waitin’ for permission. They’re just doin’ it. Back in my day, you worked your way up, slow and steady. Now, it’s like, if the door’s locked, they’ll just build a new house next door. I might be wrong, but I think that’s what it takes when the old ways ain’t workin’ no more. Evie, you think local leadership can really break through all this entrenched power?

Carlos Estevez

Yeah, let’s get into that. So, tech’s everywhere—like, the average person’s online over six hours a day now. We got TikTok trends, Discord groups, and, honestly, it’s easy to feel lost in the noise. I mean, I remember when I helped that Miami clinic recover from a ransomware attack—people were scared, didn’t trust the system, but when we got their data back, it was like, suddenly, tech was the hero. But, I gotta ask: does all this personalized tech actually build trust, or does it just make us more isolated? Chijioke, what do you think?

Chijioke Eze

Carlos, that is a good question. In my country, we say, “The goat that stands alone is easy prey.” Technology can connect us, but it can also make us lonely. These days, everyone is in their own bubble—AI curates your news, your friends, even your music. Sometimes, it feels like we are losing the village. But, I see hope in people creating intentional communities—digital sabbaths, slow media, even going back to the land. Frank, do you think these new ways can bring us back together?

Franklin "Frank" McAllister

Well, Chijioke, I reckon there’s somethin’ to be said for slowin’ down. Out in the barn, tinkerin’ with my old radios, I get to thinkin’—maybe we need less noise, more signal. Folks are startin’ to crave that, I think. But, I dunno, sometimes it feels like we’re all just talkin’ past each other, stuck in our own little algorithmic bunkers. Evie, you see any ways folks are breakin’ outta those bubbles?

Evangeline "Evie" Dugas

Yeah, Frank, I do. I see folks settin’ up community gardens, doin’ digital detox weekends, even startin’ “regenerative” projects that go beyond just bein’ sustainable. It’s like, people are tired of just scrollin’—they wanna build somethin’ real, together. But, you know, it’s a balance. Tech can help us organize, but it can also make us feel like we’re just another face in the feed. Carlos, you think we’re redefining community, or just losin’ it?

Carlos Estevez