Where are they for the next generations?

In my formative years I had heroes
Not people that I automatically would like to be
But those who seem to reflect important values
Of the kind of world they would like to see

Hard not to admire Malcolm and Doc King
Many tried to pull them apart
The sisters and brothers knew the real story
That both were speaking so well from the heart

Next came lads from England four were in this bunch
The world knew them as the Beatles
Liked all four
And the bass lines I could eat for lunch

Added to this three politicians
Chisholm, Jordan, and Robert Kennedy
Still weep with the latter's unmet potential
The White House just wasn't his destiny

Came to admire Gandhi and Mandela
Both faced the legacies of colonial rule
They were pushed by even more radical voices
Yet never could be called anyone's mere tool

And so I ask those whose future is open
When looking who can they see
Is there anyone that they can point to
Working toward a stronger community

Inspiration, aspiration, role models
Talk about athletes, singers, and movie stars
Have they been reduced to those earning billions
The indulgent parties, flashy clothes, and the cars

Are they so short of examples
Humanity's progress absent in their goals
Surely being civic minded still a virtue
For us can we say which bell really tolls?