The Total Package

Twenty two years ago I had my dream job. I was a television producer for the award-winning Teen Summit on Black Entertainment Television. Although I had a very small on air segment, the BET glam squad took time to make sure that every stitch of my weave was in place, make up was flawless and that I had on the latest fashions.  Even when they weren't around, they had equipped me with the skills necessary to maintain the professional look of a journalist.

Fast forward to NFL Sunday football and Pam Oliver. There have been enough jokes and I've even seen a few prayers for her to make a change so no need to deploy any comedic talents to fuel the fire.

I think this does deserve some serious commentary. I've become more of a sports fan partly because of the female presence of all of the sports journalists who have been able to maintain stability in one of the most male dominated industries.

To this end, I know in my heart that Pam Oliver has read the commentary, seen the pictures and is tired of it, but truthfully, I also know that Pam knows better.  My thought is that an individual's  presence as a journalist is comprised of more than your knowledge of the field in which you are reporting/covering.  To me, Pam Oliver is a pioneer and quite possibly an inspiration not only to women who may want  to someday walk in her shoes but she may be inspiring all people to have the courage to pursue career aspirations in fields with a history of gender, age, and racial inequality. Her success can't be ignored, but how she's been looking for the past two Sunday's is overshadowing these great strides.

I've probably read as many posts or articles about Pam's hair as you have in the span of a week and critics are being outed for tearing a 'sista' down, being harsh and sexists (one commentary stated that this would never be an issue for a male broadcaster) and making much ado about nothing as it relates to Pam Oliver's weave situation. Of course there are stark comparisons to the Gabby Douglas hair commentary from the Summer Olympics but the difference here is that 1) Pam is a grown woman and 2) she has a job in which appearing on camera is front and center.

Your skills are important but how you look on camera is just as important. I don't think I've ever seen a journalist (male or female) that appears 'not put together from head to toe' time and again.  I don't want anyone to walk away from this post thinking that I'm superficial but I do think Mrs. Oliver has a career in which her outward appearance is important. 

I dare not venture into any commentary talking about how touchy the 'black hair' issue is or how this is just one of those cultural issues that we can't seem to let go of, because for me this isn't really about black hair.  It's about a female journalist who knows that she is held to different standards than her male counterparts (which is TOTALLY wrong) in a male dominated industry that just so happened NOT to put her best foot forward, in terms of her appearance, two Sunday's in a row.  

I'm not going to get all churchy on folks as I bring this post to a close, but I'm reminded of a story my husband told me that he heard Joel Olsteen share on a radio program.  Mr. Olsteen's wife asked him to run to the grocery store and get something for dinner.  He had just finished working out and was sweaty with an old  t-shirt and gym pants on.  He hopped in the car with the hopes of running into the store without being noticed. He said that just as he was getting ready to get out of the car and go into the grocery store God spoke to him.  

"God Spoke to me. I  mean, if God has every spoken to me, He spoke to me right there!  Right down inside, I'm sure He said, "Don't you dare go in their representing Me like that!" He said, "Don't you know that I'm the King of Kings?" (You Best Life Now, page 285)

Joel Olsteen said he went back home, took a shower and but on clean clothes and then went back to the store.  The bottom line for him was that God doesn't appreciated laziness or sloppiness. 

Why is this important here?  We'll for me, it was my husband's way of ministering to me as I was having one of those moments where putting myself together wasn't at the top of my list.  I often think about the conversation my  husband and I had regarding Joel Olsteen's comments and how that applied to our lives. Sure there are moments where I want to put on a baseball cap and dark glasses and run errands, or days when I don't want to put on my best face, but you know what?  I'm obligated to.  As a professional woman, mother, believer and mentor, I have an obligation to be the best me I can be all the time.  This definitely isn't an association with perfection, but I try hard to show that I have pride in myself both internally and externally. 

I'm not saying that Pam Oliver needs to embrace the spiritual teaching of Joe Olsteen (but if you want to, you can read the entire book at  www.slideshare.net/FreeLeaks/your-best-life-now-by-joel-osteen), or that she's not putting her best foot forward but there is room for reflection and improvement in all of us.

I'm sure she knows that she was a trending topic yesterday on social media. She has to know that people will be watching not only to see the Seahawks and Denver battle it out for Football's most prestigious honor but to see if she cares enough about herself to make a return to being the total package every time she's on camera.