This is a sponsored conversation in collaboration with P&G and Raley’s. All thoughts are my own.
We are constantly inundated with negative images and stereotypes of Black men. Just turn on the TV and watch the news, you’ll see story after story featuring Black males in a less than flattering light. As the Mother of biracial children, and the wife of a Black man, I try to expose my sons to as many positive Black male role models as possible. I want them to know that what they see on TV isn’t the whole story- there ARE many Black men that are gainfully employed, good men, law-abiding citizens – men that are loving husbands and fathers. I want them to see Black college graduates, Blacks in STEM, and successful Black men in the tech industry. I make sure they know about the contributions of many Black inventors, like refrigeration, blood banks, and open-heart surgery, to name a few.
With this in mind, when I was asked to attend a Meet & Greet with Oakland Raider, Marcel Reece – I joyfully accepted. I knew Marcel was a stand up guy, he’s very strong in his faith & is a devoted spouse & father. Those are the characteristics I try to instill in my boys, I want them to be men of honor-God fearing men. Since the media does such a poor job of portraying Blacks & Latinos as anything but criminals & deadbeat dads, it’s up to me to show my brown-skinned sons that good men of color do exist, outside of our immediate family.
My boys are very athletic and love playing sports. We love getting the family together & inviting friends over to watch the big games. There’s nothing better than cheering on your team while enjoying good food & fellowship with like-minded individuals. Much like my 49’ers parties, lots of prep & planning goes into throwing a Raider party. From planning the menu, to cleaning the house & choosing the perfect game time attire.
Before we can throw a party, we have to make sure the house is spotless & all the grass stains have been washed off our jerseys. I depend on brands likes Tide, Bounty, Dawn and Febreeze to tackle (see what I did there?!) our messes, and help our family get ready for all the game day action before the coin toss!
Now to the good stuff, like meeting Marcel Reece! Nob Hill Foods, in Alameda, played host for the meet & greet. There were lots of Proctor & Gamble samples being handed out & people were excited about seeing one of their favorite players up close & personal.
My little guy is super shy, but he was anxious to meet Marcel.
You never really know what to expect when you are meeting someone for the first time. Marcel was great with all the kids in attendance. He asked them their names, their age, & didn’t rush them. I bet he’s a great Dad, I think we got a little glimpse of that side of him & it was very sweet. My little man asked me to take a pic of his autographed treasures & I happily obliged.
My guy wasn’t the only one excited, look at this Raider-In-Training below.
And that’s how the evening went, Marcel Reece interacting with the kids, answering their questions, signing footballs for them, even holding little ones overcome with emotion at meeting their favorite player. He made lots of children (and their parents) very happy. And he made quite an impression on my son. Whether he knew it or not, Marcel made a positive impact on my brown-skinned boy – thank you Marcel!
The good folks over at P&G & Raley’s/NobHill said they wanted to do something nice for my readers, so I’m hosting a giveaway for you guys! YAY! Good luck!
Giveaway
Contest over.
