Pressure
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.
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