(ThyBlackMan.com) Recently Lebron James opened a phenomenal school for youth, including a food pantry, academic studies where adults can get their GEDs., free tuition, meals, uniforms and transportation for students as well as tremendous help with college. I applaud Lebron for that , no doubt about it. But I have to ask a question that reveals a deep problem in the African American community needing immediate attention.
Where are the real African American role models? You may argue that a role model is anyone who steps up to make a difference and provide a positive example through his or her actions. And you would be mostly correct. So in that sense, there are many unsung heroes of the African American community who change lives and communities every day – with or without money. And that is a great thing.
But here is the problem. Only in the African American community do we have sports figures, comedians (Cosby before the fall), talk show hosts (Oprah), glorified strippers (Beyonce, Rihanna, Nikki Minaj) who are vocally talented and rappers who put down women in their raps as role models and examples for our children. There is no excuse for this when we have so many strong, smart entrepreneurs, academic professionals, political leaders, social activists etc.
No other ethnic group o the planet looks towards sports figures, comedians, talk show hosts and entertainers as role models as much as African Americans.
We in the African American community place entirely too much emphasis on entertainment and those who are a part of it. The money our young people (and adults) spend to support them, emulate them, buy their products and concert tickets is ridiculous and too many of our people support this. Babies with Nike shoes when their feet will grow out of them in a few months. Hair weaves at age 5. Dancing troops shaking what they have while the “artist” calls them names and says what he is wanting to do to them. Blatant disrespect, all supported by many in the African American community, all accepted as OK and all looked at as simple entertainment. Yet if a rapper called your mother or wife those names to their face,, you would be ready to fight – and you know it. My point? The cloak of “entertainment” does not make it OK to disrespect our people.
Where are the real role models of the African American community who overstand that with great power comes great responsibility? Where are those who realize that when much is given, much is required?
Ironically so many African Americans want to act like they have arrived yet they have no idea where they are going. And time after time we see our biggest heroes as those who have far less to work with than the super rich who do something between nothing and a fraction of what they could do.
When I hit the nail on the head by naming a favorite entertainer in the African American community and call him or her out for what they are, it draws anger and contention from the followers or groupies. Why? Because they look up to these entertainers. From Jay-Z (a former mid level black drug dealer) to Snoop (a gangbanger and murderer) to Nikki Minaj ( a slut who can rap and whose actions objectify women) and so on, these are the people our young people promote and support. Why?
Where are our people who are opening academies, founding universities and building companies to compete with Apple or Coke instead of begging to work for them? Instead largely what do we have? People angry about food stamp restrictions and low minimum wages. Our people are capable but largely asleep and full of far too many excuses. When I owned a business development firm over the course of a decade, my hope was to help as many African Americans start and build businesses as possible. Sadly over 70% of my clients were Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian – not African American as I had hoped. Even with free training seminars, I was competing in the “black” community with the game on that night or a rapper’s concert performance – neither of which helped our people get ahead. Wake up people.
The solution? Be the change you are expecting. Turn your mind up. Expect more of yourself, your family and your community. Stop making excuses. Start where you are. Set higher goals and stronger standards. Call out our church leaders and hold them to real standards of lifting our people up instead of continuing to fleece the flock. Stand for something. Build a company or business or nonprofit instead of begging to work for one. Spread the message of victory and unity and collaboration and power in your community and keep saying it until it catches on. Write about it. Speak about it. Text about it. Use social media. Let your mind grow. Feed your intellect, not just the part of your brain that loves entertainment. It really is that serious.
The role models in the African American community are apparently going to have to largely come from the grass roots level. Not from those who have the money and power on the top end. But so be it. Let’s get to it then.
Staff Writer; Trevo Craw