Op/Ed piece for Associated Content-
Mentor-in-Chief?
Does Every High Profile Black Person Have to Be the Designated “Mentor” for the Entire Race?
January 30, 2009 by D.S. Brayboy [link]
When it became apparent that Barack Obama was going to be America’s next President, stories describing how Obama is such a role model for Black folks began appearing across the media landscape. It started with reports of little Black boys in classrooms who suddenly felt the urge to study harder. Then eventually dark complexion girls and women began to sing his praises. Why? Because he chose for his wife a women whose skin resembled their own. To them, not only did he marry a “real Black woman”, but this was also seen as an exhale moment of validation for darker-complected Black women everywhere. According to one recent study, test scores amongst its Black participants went up as a result of Obama winning the election.
Perhaps the most over the top “Obasm” I have heard was how good it is to see Black folks in love as opposed to negative imagery of Black people on television.
Hold up! Wait a minute!
Maybe I have been living on some obscure street within the Matrix; but is the Black community really this helpless?
Is Obama really ‘The One’ we have been looking for? Or should we continue to look for another?
As much as I may be appreciative of this historical moment in our nation’s history, I have also had my fill of folks looking to install Obama as the latest mentor for the Black community to follow. It is almost as if many of these starry-eyed fans of Obama have never spent a day in the Black community. Allow me to give you the quick 2 minute tour to a place where television cameras oftentimes don’t reach.
In homes all across the United States, you will find that there are Black children who have been studying hard for years and have the grades to prove it. While many will tell you that they are inspired by Obama’s rise to the White House, they will also tell you that they have not been waiting for a Black President push them to do better. Instead, for many of them, their parent or parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, etc. are the unsung heroes who have been the real driving force of inspiration.
As far as “Black love” goes, Black people have been loving each other regardless of skin tone since the beginning. It was the Black community that played a major role in teaching the Obamas how to love, not the other way around.
“But how about all that negative imagery of Black folks out there? Surely the Obamas can counteract that imagery.”
Well actually, the days of Black folks portrayed as buffoons on television have long been on a downturn years before Obama’s run for the Presidency. For every Flavor of Love out there, there are dozens of shows on television that portray Blacks in respectable roles ranging from doctors to lawyers and other professionals. For every Soul Plane there are many Blacks out there producing, directing and starring in films that do not propagate stereotypes. Debra Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET Networks, recently mentioned that hip hop videos only account for 20 percent of her network’s programming. And that is down from 70 percent a few years ago. Despite that fact, folks continuously blame hip hop videos as the main culprit making us look bad in front of White people. Why are we stuck on trying to impress Whites, I will never understand.
Back in 2000, when Al Gore shared that passionate kiss with his wife in front of a global audience, did we hear reports about how their public affection is inspiring to White people everywhere?
When our past Presidents took the oath of office, did we hear any stories about how little White boys all over the country are now doing better in school?
Or, when was the last time you heard someone say that White Presidents from the past were to function as role models for their race?
Barack Obama has one main responsibility to this country: to serve as its President. Can we please stop trying to make him more than that?
Sphere: Related Content
Mentor-in-Chief?
by Duane on January 31st, 2009 at 3:30 amMentor-in-Chief?
Does Every High Profile Black Person Have to Be the Designated “Mentor” for the Entire Race?
January 30, 2009 by D.S. Brayboy [link]
When it became apparent that Barack Obama was going to be America’s next President, stories describing how Obama is such a role model for Black folks began appearing across the media landscape. It started with reports of little Black boys in classrooms who suddenly felt the urge to study harder. Then eventually dark complexion girls and women began to sing his praises. Why? Because he chose for his wife a women whose skin resembled their own. To them, not only did he marry a “real Black woman”, but this was also seen as an exhale moment of validation for darker-complected Black women everywhere. According to one recent study, test scores amongst its Black participants went up as a result of Obama winning the election.
Perhaps the most over the top “Obasm” I have heard was how good it is to see Black folks in love as opposed to negative imagery of Black people on television.
Hold up! Wait a minute!
Maybe I have been living on some obscure street within the Matrix; but is the Black community really this helpless?
Is Obama really ‘The One’ we have been looking for? Or should we continue to look for another?
As much as I may be appreciative of this historical moment in our nation’s history, I have also had my fill of folks looking to install Obama as the latest mentor for the Black community to follow. It is almost as if many of these starry-eyed fans of Obama have never spent a day in the Black community. Allow me to give you the quick 2 minute tour to a place where television cameras oftentimes don’t reach.
In homes all across the United States, you will find that there are Black children who have been studying hard for years and have the grades to prove it. While many will tell you that they are inspired by Obama’s rise to the White House, they will also tell you that they have not been waiting for a Black President push them to do better. Instead, for many of them, their parent or parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, etc. are the unsung heroes who have been the real driving force of inspiration.
As far as “Black love” goes, Black people have been loving each other regardless of skin tone since the beginning. It was the Black community that played a major role in teaching the Obamas how to love, not the other way around.
“But how about all that negative imagery of Black folks out there? Surely the Obamas can counteract that imagery.”
Well actually, the days of Black folks portrayed as buffoons on television have long been on a downturn years before Obama’s run for the Presidency. For every Flavor of Love out there, there are dozens of shows on television that portray Blacks in respectable roles ranging from doctors to lawyers and other professionals. For every Soul Plane there are many Blacks out there producing, directing and starring in films that do not propagate stereotypes. Debra Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET Networks, recently mentioned that hip hop videos only account for 20 percent of her network’s programming. And that is down from 70 percent a few years ago. Despite that fact, folks continuously blame hip hop videos as the main culprit making us look bad in front of White people. Why are we stuck on trying to impress Whites, I will never understand.
Back in 2000, when Al Gore shared that passionate kiss with his wife in front of a global audience, did we hear reports about how their public affection is inspiring to White people everywhere?
When our past Presidents took the oath of office, did we hear any stories about how little White boys all over the country are now doing better in school?
Or, when was the last time you heard someone say that White Presidents from the past were to function as role models for their race?
Barack Obama has one main responsibility to this country: to serve as its President. Can we please stop trying to make him more than that?
Sphere: Related Content