As youngsters growing up there was an overexposure through the movies of artificial heroes. Our exposure was overwhelmingly to White men such as Robin Hood, Jesse and Frank James, General George Armstrong Custer, Tarzan, the Durango Kid, Lone Ranger, Flash Gordon, and many others. The next phase of our lives were to comic books and once again the heroes did not reflect the person you saw in the mirror. There was Batman and Robin, Superman, Captain Marvel, The Flash, Spider-Man and others.
Now it is the age of television and the heroes have become alive in our living rooms. We watch the major drug cartels in action, hit men execute persons, women and children misused, and often nothing is left to your imagination. These gangsters and their negative actions are often glamorized and even duplicated.
A major problem that too many of us are confronted with is the inability to separate persons of talent whether it is music or sports from being worshiped as a hero. The latest incidents involving athletes has made it more obvious than ever that the general public has lost focus. Ray Rice for example committed an atrocious act of violence and received more coverage than Syria, unemployment and the war in the Middle East.
Why do those who participate in sports get so much coverage? They receive it because too many of us have made them artificial heroes. How? I have witnessed unemployed men purchase Steeler jerseys and jackets for their children–from the hospital as babies to grade school. I recall an incident where a man bragged about his 4-year-old son’s leather Steeler jacket that cost $200, but the boy had no insurance.
I have nothing against sports, but we must keep it in perspective. I have attended meetings that adjourned early so they could go home to watch the game; church starts an hour earlier so those who want to see the game can be home for the kick off.
If we are to stabilize our homes, schools and overall communities, then we must imitate different kinds of heroes. Our history is replete with them. In millions of situations across this nation the heroes and heroines were and are Daddy, Mama and our grandparents. My heroes were my Daddy and the biblical David; they both were an influence on my life and prepared me to challenge wrongs even if they are the size of Goliath.
Please send a financial contribution to Kingsley Association.
(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum page.)
