Typically labels rarely bother me, but after coming across this particular article, “my eyebrows quivered with anger” (to borrow a line from Randall Robbinson). Not exactly “anger” but frustration. Here is an excerpt:
Blacks inspired by new ‘role model’ (southofboston.com)
James Jackson aspires to be in politics one day. He says Deval Patrick is an “inspiration†to him and other members of the minority community.
“As an African-American, I don’t see a lot of role models I can look up to like Deval Patrick,†Jackson, a Brockton High School sophomore, said Tuesday. “For him to be the first African-American governor of my home state of Massachusetts, that’s just amazing.â€Â
“He is a person that is a super-excellent role model for anybody of color, but in particular, young folks of color,†said Ossie Jordan, president of the Brockton area chapter of the NAACP. (more…)
Society in general is in need of good leadership FROM THE HOME ON UP. As an avid reader, I have seen this labeling of Blacks who meet some level of success as “role-models” too many times for my taste. Reason? It usually depicts Black folks as a helpless collective in need of a “representative” on center stage in order to function correctly. Setting someone up as a role model (particularly within Black culture) means that they first and foremost represent ALL Black people everywhere. By doing this, Governor Deval Patrick not only shoulders the weight of responsibility for the state of Massachusetts, but also for the “Black” cause. If he makes one mistake in this balancing act, he could very well let down an entire race.
Leave the role models for home life.
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