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The Importance of Role Models Who Share a Common Heritage or Sex
I feel that it is extremely important for children to see role models who look and sound like them. Young people tend to idolize successful people who share their heritage. For years there were no high profile black golf professionals until Tiger Woods came on the scene. The influence of Tiger has motivated young blacks to play the game of golf.
The same can be said about Venus and Serena, there has been an increased interest in the sport of tennis since they appeared on the scene several years ago. Venus and Serena have inspired young blacks to play tennis. Blacks no longer identify tennis as a white sport.
The culture and the background of role models is a factor in how they impact the lives of young people. NASCAR has very few black drivers; therefore very few blacks are interested in NASCAR. It is a fact that Japan has grown to enjoy the Big Leagues because a number of high profile Japanese players are playing in the Big Leagues. The some can be said about the Chinese they are interested in the National Basketball League because Yao Ming is playing for the Houston Rockets. The Chinese have a genuine basketball icon to cheer.
Lots of times when people witness the success of those who share their heritage there is a sense of pride. When Joe Louis was crowned the heavyweight champion in the 1930’s there was a national celebration in the black community. The same kind of celebration occurred when Jackie Robinson broke the Big League color barrier in the 40’s. Jackie carried the hopes and dreams of black Americans. His heroic Big League baseball career opened the door for genuine integration in America. The same can be said about Dr. Martin Luther King, blacks celebrated the fact that he spoke with such eloquence and showed courage in the face of danger and discrimination during a time when he had little or no protection from state or national agencies. Youth need to be exposed to model roles who share their heritage.
All young people regardless of race, gender or social economic class need to be exposed to successful people who share their heritage or sex. Young girls need to see women in successful professional positions. Exposure to positive role models who share a common heritage, race or gender is extremely important.
Whether we agree or not there are issues which are germane to the sex or the race of a person. Political polls indicate that women are more interested in health care and child care issues than men and blacks are generally more concerned about civil rights issues than whites because in the past they were denied basic civil rights and they realize that the courts can reverse major civil rights decisions.
Persons who serve in policy making positions generally articulate issues and concerns of those who look and sound like them, this is why fairness of objectivity is essential. The concerns of the majority and the minority need to be heard before making major policy decisions.
A true dialogue of equal pay and equal protection of the under the law did not occur until the mid sixties when the passing of civil rights legislation opened the door for persons of different races and genders to serve in policy making positions. Racial and gender diversity is usually a great safeguard for fairness and equality when making policy decisions.
Micheal J. Darby