Parker Curry, age 2, was being difficult. Her mama wanted her to turn around so she could snap a photo of her in front of the regal portrait of Michelle Obama. But Parker ignored her, and stared transfixed at the image itself. In that moment, another visitor, Ben Hines, snapped a photo from the side, revealing Parker’s jaw-dropping awe.
Hines posted his photo on Facebook and it went viral.
Parker has now met and even had a dance party with Mrs. Obama. Suddenly the gates of possibility have been opened to her. This little girl’s entire life will probably be altered by her mama taking her to see a portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama.
When I was 13 I went to “town school” for the first time, after spending my first eight grades in a one room school seven miles outside of our small town. I signed up for Chorus and quickly fell for both the music and the teacher, Mr. Secrest. My whole world opened up with music and by my sophomore year I was in the choir and small groups. All my friendships developed out of choir and I felt at home there, if hardly anywhere else at the much larger school. By my junior year I had a new music teacher, also a man.
Because both my parents were college grads, it was assumed I would go to college (even though it was also assumed I would marry and not need to work – it was the early ’60’s and that was still the expectation where I lived). But what was I going to do? What would I major in? I had no idea. Teaching felt really natural to me, but what would I teach? Obviously I couldn’t teach music.. I was female. It never even crossed my mind.
Until one day in my senior year.
That day my music teacher, Mr. Miller, brought in a lovely young woman and introduced her as our Student Teacher. Really? I couldn’t believe it. Remember Shari Lewis and LambChop? To me she looked just like the beautiful Shari Lewis… how could she be a music teacher?
The days went by with her observing, until one day Mr. Miller left her in charge. And, we sang. We worked together with her, for her, and I loved her in the same way I had loved my male teachers.
But she opened a door for me that neither of the men had opened. If she could be a music teacher, so could I.
I started college in the fall of 1966, majoring in music and graduated four years later with a music degree. None of that would have happened without Miss Vathauer, who was one of my first heroes (she-roes!).
Unbeknownst to her, she lit a light that I followed and it changed my life.
We are watching as powerful men and sometimes women fall from their positions of power. We see the inauthenticity and outright lies and it’s easy to become cynical. Who could possibly be my hero now?!
In the early ’90’s I became obsessed with Styx’s song “Show me the Way.” “All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay….and I feel this emptiness inside – so afraid, I’ve lost my faith.”
But if we don’t require our heroes and she-roes to be perfect, simply authentic and real and courageous – our lives will be richer for having them.
The Superheroes in Black Panther are affecting children of color powerfully. But if you want a new human hero, follow the stories of the real people – like director, Ryan Coogler. Or Lupita Nyong’o. Or Oprah Winfrey. Or… the lists could go on and on.
Who is your hero or she-ro? Who makes you wish you had done what they have done? Who is a shining light? Let someone inspire you. Follow the stories, paintings, songs, songwriters, authors, actors, entrepreneurs… discover the ones that electrify you. That make you believe MORE is possible than you ever dreamed.
There is tremendous power in naming and learning about our heroes. To focus on your heroes is to turn towards what is possible, away from what is wrong.
And you will find yourself someone’s hero one day.
