Perhaps the most Millennial thing to happen all year occurred last week, when it was announced that Millennial sports icon LeBron James would star in the sequel to the Millennial childhood classic, “Space Jam,” which originally featured Michael Jordan and Millennials’ unofficial favorite old guy, Bill Murray.

 

Which got me thinking. Who can we count amongst those who are inarguably icons of, or to, the Millennial generation? I’d argue it’s those we’ve continued to cherish for 10 years or more. Plus, going back 10 years, 2008 was pivotal for our generation. It was the year the Great Recession began – an event that is still impacting Millennials’ financial standing today. If our icons of that time made it through all that with us, surely, they’re worth mentioning.

So. Who have we carried with us through all that time?

 

There are a few obvious picks. Starting with (all together with me in unison now):

 

Beyoncé – Music Icon

Honestly, I am less into Queen Bey now than I was as a kid at Hoover Middle School, when any person entering my bedroom would have been inundated by walls full of Destiny’s Child posters pulled from the pages of “Tiger Beat” magazine, punctuated, of course, with Spice Girls and NSYNC memorabilia.

 

In 2008, Beyoncé released “I Am… Sasha Fierce,” her first solo album depicting her alter ego of the same name who, by all accounts I am willing to entertain, won over Millennial America. It was the album that brought us “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On it),” after all. You know you still try to do that dance every time the song comes on when you’ve had one too many margaritas.

 

I may not be as into Beyoncé’s music now as I once was, but I totally get why she has such a huge fan base. She’s immensely talented, has totally cultivated her own image and narrative, has a super body-positive attitude (and, frankly, for good reason), is incredibly successful, and even manages to get political on occasion but without being obnoxious about it. And she’s creative, to boot. So, here’s to Queen Bey, Beyhive.

 

LeBron James – Sports Icon

If you know anything about me you know I know next to nothing about sports. If you’re bringing me to a sports-themed pub trivia night, prepare for us to lose. But even I am not dense enough to miss that LeBron James – another Millennial icon more often referred to by his first name – is a superstar. (And yes, I know he plays basketball . . . . And yes, I had to look up for which team).

 

The Internet tells me 2008-2009 was the first year LeBron was recognized as most valuable player in the NBA, a feat he’d repeat three more times, among many other accolades. According to my BFF who actually follows sports, Millennials love LeBron because he grew up in impoverished neighborhoods but lifted himself up to become successful. He has “superhuman athleticism,” is a philanthropist, and has a pretty solid reputation all around. He is also diversifying his career, having recently partnered with HBO for an unscripted series called “The Shop,” in which LeBron and others will tackle broad topics of conversation in the setting of a barbershop.

 

And we can’t forget “Space Jam.”

 

Steve Jobs – Tech Icon

Picture a black turtleneck. Who’s wearing it in your mind’s eye? Chances are, it’s Steve Jobs – the man who took us from Walkmans to iPods, and, thus, changed the music industry forever. Then he took us from flip phones to iPhones, and, in doing so, put fully functioning, compact computers in the pockets of average people worldwide.

 

Steve Jobs transformed how we took in information about the world while Millennials were becoming adults. He cemented our preferred form of communication as text. He gave us cheap, even free, music on the go. He gave us access to the Internet – in our pockets. Basically . . .  he spoiled us. And we loved him for it.

 

In 2008, Jobs introduced the “App Store,” thereby creating a whole new industry – a way for people with ideas to put those ideas into the pockets of anyone with an iPhone. And, quite quickly, that became a heck of a lot of people.

 

He may have left this world, but his legacy lives on. In our pockets, on our wrists, and, of course, in our depleted bank accounts.

 

Barack Obama and John McCain – Political Icons

2008 was a big deal for Millennials not only because our financial futures were suddenly bleak, but also because it was an election year – and, for many of us, it was the first presidential election we got to participate in. Our political icons that year in many ways remain of equal relevance today.

 

In 2008, for many Millennials, Barack Obama was The Man. He was younger than most presidential candidates we’d ever seen. Diverse, like our generation. An inspirational orator. And he was selling an agenda we, as well as many others, longed for: “hope and change.” He became our first black president.

 

For the right or more moderate leaning among us, there was John McCain. McCain was the embodiment of patriotism. He reminded a generation who witnessed 9/11 in their formative years, and who saw many classmates enlist soon thereafter, that it was OK to be proud to be an American. Even though parts of the world were telling us not to.

 

For those on the left, and some in the middle, Obama remains an icon – particularly in contrast to our current administration. And for mostly everyone, with the exception of those who cannot accept anyone who has ever donned the label of Republicans, McCain, even after his recent death, remains an icon too. And for our generation, they probably both always will.

 

Malala Yousafzai – Humanitarian Icon

Malala, as she is most commonly known, didn’t register on the international radar at a truly encompassing scale until, unfortunately, she was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban as she rode the bus to school in Pakistan in 2012. The resilient 15 year old survived, and went on to become something of a philosopher, and an advocate for education and women’s rights.

 

Malala was targeted for activism she began at the age of 11, in 2008, after publicly advocating for young girls to be allowed the right to go to school after the Taliban had invaded areas of Pakistan and banned women’s education. She continued this advocacy up until, and after, she was nearly murdered. In 2014, she became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2015, she opened a school for girls who had survived the war in Syria. And she continues to pursue humanitarian efforts. In summation: she’s kind of a superhero.

 

I’d come up with more categories, but I’m out of space. Why don’t you send me some, and we’ll see what we can hash out down the road?

Samantha_mehlinger@lbbj.com