What's the most pressing youth issue?

"What's the Most Pressing Youth Issue?" produced by Y-Press at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, surveys youth about what they believe to be the most important youth issues. The interviewees talk about the following issues: the war, stopping violence, the economy, education, oil, and tuition hikes. While these issues are certainly relevant and important on a national level, our critique lies in the fact that none of the interviewees address the day to day pressing issues facing inner-city lower class youth. The issues that many of us face on a daily basis include: police harassment, racism, incarceration, gangs, the availability of guns, youth on youth crime, a lack of role models, and finally the lack of respect youth have towards each other. These issues affect the minds and actions of our youth because many of us were born into this day to day struggle for survival. The responses of the youth interviewed in this piece are indicative of their ignorance to issues facing inner-city youth. We think that this is a huge part of the problem. The issues of the inner-city youth are issues that impact everyone in society, and yet they are ignored. This radio piece would've been more comprehensive if youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds were interviewed, but perhaps this is a consequence of the lack of lower class youth represented at Democratic Convention. This piece reflects the nation's larger problem of emphasizing middle class issues, while neglecting a larger discussion of poverty and its consequences.