Ambassadors for the Black race?

MIDWESTDIVA · #1 10-23-2002, 08:49 PM

Many Blacks who have achieved racial milestones felt tremendous pressure to excel because they felt their performance represented the entire race (ie the first Black students to integrate an all white school).

In this day and age do you feel that your actions, or the actions of others negatively or positively impacts perceptions about the Black race?

ClassyLady · #2 10-24-2002, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MIDWESTDIVA
In this day and age do you feel that your actions, or the actions of others negatively or positively impacts perceptions about the Black race?

I don't know if my actions affect others' perceptions of Blacks. But, I do admit that in certain situations I do feel some sort of "obligation" to represent my people well.

Steeltrap · #3 10-24-2002, 02:17 PM

Sometimes, I've felt this pressure. I've been in some of the situations that were described in this topic -- for instance, I've been the only professional AfAm at several of the newspapers I've worked for. I have only worked in so-called "big media" for four years, as an aside.

My mom also felt that way, because she was the first black nursing administrator at her hospital. She was promoted in 1967.

I also believe that high-achieving AfAms get pressure from others to present good images, even today. That, IMO, is a result of the fact that we really believe in the strength-in-numbers doctrine and the fact that the larger society doesn't really judge us as individuals.

Group think is fine for certain issues, but I also argue for the right to be an individual.

Honeykiss1974 · #4 10-28-2002, 05:38 PM

I definitely feel the pressure to "represent" for AfAms. I have lived and worked in predominately white environments and have heard the infamous " you're not like everyone else "

or "you are so different". Yeah, ok.

I couldn't tell you if the pressure is something that I place upon myself or what, but I do believe what I do will impact some doo doo's impression of black folks.

SeriousSigma22 · #5 10-28-2002, 09:52 PM

Folks,

Yes, my students look at everything that I do and many take it to heart! I also know that a lot of caucasian educators feel that I am the voice for all of my people and they just assume that I speak and represent every aspect of the African American race. I've had to get with many of my coworkers because they've made that mistake.

Serioussigma22