Wesley Autry insists he is not a "hero." Is the media exploiting issues of race?

Question

Wesley Autry did a brave and praise worthy thing jumping onto those tracks to save that fellow as the train was approaching. He also sets an example of a good citizen. Perhaps what he is saying is that he was doing what any person would be morally (and in some States legally) obligated to do.

There is something much more sinister going on. He is getting the extensive coverage, talk show appearances, checks in the mail, scholarships for his kids......because he is Black. The media (NBC, ABC, Donald Trump, and others) are exploiting the situation and using this single individual's identity to atone their sense of guilt about racial relations in the US and try to expunge the stereotype that a Black male living in an inner city is only capable of crime. It also reeks of marketing.

I am from New York and have lived in the city since I was a teenager. This is not the first time something like this has happened. Of all of the timesit has happened, to my recollection the "hero" was White and the story got no more than network news coverage. I am not saying there is an unfairness in the coverage, but just another form of racism from using his race and socio-economic background for their own purposes.

The man clearly did a brave thing. But the media should stop exploiting it and simply cover the story for what it is. Checks, cash, scholarships, TV appearances, etc. is not going to address the shame in our past no more than does preferential treatment, quotas, African-American Student unions on campus, and changing the name of every expressway in every major city to "Martin Luther King."

And like anything with the media and the private life of one individual, it is out of his hands now and has taken a life of its own.

Answer 1

Like so much in the media it's a question of timing - it's a great story with which to start the New Year.

Don't know about sinister - just typical media exploitation of a situation, with people like Trump using it as a PR exercise.

I wish the guy well, but he's having his 15 minutes whether he wants them or not.

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Answer 2

I think especially in NYC at this time when there's a lot of tension because of the Sean Bell case yeah they certainly are using this man's heroic actions to exploit issues of race. Which is just so terrible because this man sounds so humble.

That's one of the bravest things I've ever heard of. No one wants to be down on those tracks! He deserves all the accolades he gets. And if people are using it to address their white guilt well at least his family is none the worse for it. Heck, his two girls got scholarships! And I really think that out of all the stuff he was given that was the best reward.

I don't really agree with saying it's just as ineffectual as such things as African-American Student Unions, but I can see where you're going with it and I respect that opinion.

Answer 3

I strongly disagree with your comment regarding preferential treatment for African American as you put it
(student unions on campus, quotas and renaming expressways). The man did a brave thing and I believe he deserves every gift given to him. It's refreshing to see something positive in the news these days instead of the constant dribble about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and company. I think you need to ask yourself why you have a problem with it. Is it really the exploitation as you put it that bothers you? Or is it something else? Would you do it? Would you risk your life for a stranger? It's easy to respond to that question in front of a computer, but he was there, he didn't give it lip service.

Answer 4

I agree with KJ completely. I believe Wesley deserves all of the recognition he is getting. His acts of kindness to save one person shows a great deal of morality and courage. I wouldn't have jumped out there to save the man, but Wesley did. Like said previously, all the people witnessing this could have been charged with crime of omission. Wesley Autry is a true hero!