#PhilanthroFriday: Who Was Your Role Model as a Child?
#PhilanthroFridays: Who was Your Role Model as a Child?
My role model growing up was definitely my mother. She showed me what self-sacrifice looked like. She gave me the foundation on how to use my determination and strong will to propel my life forward and not be a victim of circumstance. I will never forget there was one winter she went without a coat because she was saving money to buy our first house. She has helped me to become a strong-willed woman and I will always been indebted to her because of it. - Krishana Davis, Young Philanthropist, 20-something
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My role model growing up was my uncle Chucky. He played “dad” for me because my father was floating in oblivion. He was my favorite because he lived, and still lives his life to be happy. I was with him for summers and for travel, and he taught me how to be a man, how to respect women and people in general, and how to survive as a young black man. He always pushed me to be better than he was and of course as a child I thought he was being a jerk, but I knew that his “motivation” as we we called it, was in place to ensure my success. He still gives me invaluable advice, rewards me when I’ve done well, and will yell expletives when I need a strong hand. Strangely, he doesn’t have any children of his own, but he does have several people who look to him for encouragement and guidance. – Philip Wilson, Young Philanthropist, 20-something (Pictured)
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This is hilarious to me now, but my role model growing up was Jackie O! I thought she was so pretty and I thought her dresses were always so beautiful. I remember going to a First Ladies exhibit at the museum, and thinking, I want my dress in here one day. Then I decided I was going to be President and still wear pretty dresses. I laugh today because Michelle Obama is my shero today. My how it has come full circle.
I also loved Philicia Rashad AKA Claire Huxtable. She showed the world the GREATNESS of a black mother that I saw daily in my mother. I loved that she was successful and still took time to cook dinner and breakfast. My mother was doing that king before the Cosby Show (shout out to my mom), but we didn’t have a camera in our house. - Andrea Boudreaux, Young Philanthropist, 30-something
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As a child I didn’t have anyone to look up to. I didn’t have any role models. I grew around the usual suspects in many Black urban communities: rappers, drug dealers and athletes. I didn’t want to be any of them, but had no idea of what I really wanted to do with my life. I was on my way to being a statistic. Then in my late teens, I discovered Malcolm X and I learned what it means to be a man. He was a thief, a convict, a pimp, and a drug user. Then he transformed himself into a father, a scholar and protector of the Black community. He is our Shining Black Prince. - Brother Salim, Young Philanthropist, 30-something
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As I am hanging out with my friends in Oklahoma! The person who I looked up to was my 4th Grade Teacher Ms. Willie Bradford Tyson! This lady is absolutely amazing! She knew about my family situation and everyday she told my sisters and I that she loved us, we were amazing, and worked one on one with me to work on my confidence. Ms. Tyson made learning fun! She was able to increase my thirst for knowledge and made the prediction that I would become a teacher! She was absolutely right! We still communicate via Facebook and email to this day! - Letitia Tajuba, Young Philanthropist, 20-something
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This answer will sound cliche :-) However, I looked up to my mommy. As a young girl, I thought she was beautiful, smelled wonderful, dressed better than anyone I knew (including my Barbies) and was the best Monopoly player ever (I can’t remember winning once lol). As I grew older, I came to respect her as a woman who was about her business, and who spent her free time making sure others lived better than she did as a child. Now many years later, she is still the woman I look up to. – Kezia M. Williams, Young Philanthropist, 30-something