[quote]SteelyD wrote:
Professor X wrote:
That effectively forces any black person who is successful to act as a representative for an entire race. Should that individual fail, everyone will notice the failure as being “part of the rule” and associate it with race. I am not sure how someone could deny this.
Prof. X:
You are a role model for any young person, black/white/green/male/female. From what I can gather from your posts, you are a (presumably) successful, surgeon, a military veteran, and one seriously physically impressive human, oh, and just happen to be black…
Who is the better role model, you, or LeBron James, or Snoop Dogg? I’ve grown weary of ‘black leaders’ who claim that Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell ‘sold out’ the black community.
By becoming educated and successful, have you sold yourself out the “black community”?
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I don’t know of anyone claiming Rice or Powell sold out. In fact, I am more than sure that if Powell had run for the presidency, that we may have actually had a black president at this point in history.
Lebron shouldn’t be expected to be a role model. If he gravitates into that position, fine, but expecting him to act like one makes no sense. I looked up to Michael Jordan growing up simply because of who he was, not even because of the basketball talent. I did not fault Jordan for being human and not being perfect…even when they tried to label him negatively about gambling at one point.
I don’t think celebrities should be expected to be role models. I think children should have their parents as role models initially. If they do their job to any level of competence, their kid shouldn’t be that influenced if a celebrity falls down in the eye of society.
Yes. I had one black grandmother come into the clinic today with her 10 year old grandson. He needed some teeth extracted. I talked to the kid like I always do (something I am very good at and I am not ashamed to admit it). She acted like she had seen Jesus when I was done. The kid didn’t cry (even when injected) and he left laughing. She left singing praises loudly as if I could do no wrong. I understand why she acted this way. I also understand that people like her waited a long time to see people like me.
That comes down to the individual. I have always done community service. I was in high school when a group of us started going to the Texas Children’s Hospital every Wednesday to spend time with the kids on dialysis. That is just who I am. Because of that, yes, I personally feel a responsibility because I feel that kids need to be able to see what can be done even if they didn’t grow up with much…all kids.
I don’t claim to be a “role model”. I’m not perfect. In fact, I am pretty sure that I am at least a little fucking crazy. I just know I’m different than some people…and my grandmother told me that was for a reason.
