“Don’t take for granted what you have today,” said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, CEO of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN).

Chavis was one of many panelists who participated in the town hall forum Thursday night at the Alumni-Foundation Events Center.

Emmy-award winning journalist Ed Gordon served as the moderator for the evening. Student leaders and the Greensboro community joined the panelists in a discussion of issues affecting the black community and ways to continue progression.

The discussion began with the older panelists including Chavis, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Derrick K. Smith, Chancellor Harold Martin, Kim D. Saunders and Dr. Julianne Malveaux.

“We have to reinforce history,” said Malveaux, president of Bennett College. Malveaux said it is the job of her generation and those who consider themselves to be elders to reinforce the notion of audacity.  “See the world for what you want it to be,” Malveaux said.

Opinions began to differ as the panelists addressed whether the possibility of a generational gap affected the current state of the “movement.”

Chancellor Martin said, “We don’t want them dwelling on past dreams, they need to be forming their own dreams.”

He said it is always good to know your history, but steps should be taken to create your own history also.

“Students must know there are still things they need to fight for,” said Smith, political science professor at A&T.

Many panelists agreed with Smith and said today’s generation do not know how to fight for their own advancement. “They still need to be activist,” Smith said.

Chavis, on the other hand, believed the current generation understands how to speak out against injustice.

“The Hip Hop generation pushes the envelope of the contradictions of our society,” said Chavis. He said the generation speaks out in a different style than the civil rights generation but pushes the same issues.

Other topics such as economics were addressed. As CEO of M&F Bancorp Inc., Saunders said there is a lack of financial education in families.

“As a child your parents teach you what’s important,” said Saunders.

Malveaux said our priorities are not in the correct order, and there should not be any reason for the current generation to not protest against any inequality.

“Why can’t we have an economic protest?” Malveaux asked.

Chavis chimed in with Malveaux stating that many of black youths trap themselves in a lifestyle that promotes bad financial skills and encourages poverty. “Poverty starts in your mind,” said Chavis.

As the first half of the forum came to a close, Jackson closed out the discussion reminding the audience to become knowledgeable for themselves.

“A part of our thinking must be larger than what TV shows us,” said Jackson. “Look through the door not the keyhole.”

The second half of the forum consisted of a younger panel of students and entrepreneurs including: Stephen A. Smith, Warren Ballentine, Zim Ugochukwum, Inga Willis, Gary Brown, and Denyqua Rodriguez.

Moderator Ed Gordon posed the question of whether there is a true disconnect from the older generation and the younger generation.

Political Activist Warren Ballentine led the discussion stating that there is an obvious disconnect between the generations.

“Everyone wants to talk about elders but everyone is not an elder. An elder passes down their knowledge for others to gain from,” said Ballentine.

He said there are not a lot of elders anymore that are willing to sit down and work with the younger generation.

Bennett SGA president Denyqua Rodriguez said there are people in the younger generation such as herself that are educated and trying to fight for change.

“I do believe there are many students out there like me, but there aren’t enough of us trying to help those that may not have the same education we have,” said Rodriguez.

A&T SGA Chief of Staff Gary Brown said you can’t spend too much time chasing after those who do not want to advance themselves.

“Everyone will not want to be down for the cause, but that shouldn’t stop you from fighting and encouraging justice where it needs to be served,” said Brown.

Sports Analyst Stephen A. Smith agreed with Brown. “Some of us are lost, aim to help those who want to be helped.”

Smith also said the challenge comes in when students leave college and all their principles and history falls to the wayside.

“The people that our youth look up to provide unreal images,” said Smith.

Ballentine said, “When you know better, you do better.”

Gordon ended the forum for the evening encouraging everyone in attendance to continue to raise awareness of the issues addressed beyond the program.

“If we do not do anything after this point, then this whole discussion tonight was pointless,” said Gordon.

• Ashley Reid