I Was Just Thinking…The cost of doing wrong

Spend your life doing right. But a wrong turn can wipe it all out

By Norma Adams-Wade

Think for a minute. Then call the roll. How many prominent folk can you name who had it all, then went left alone the way and destroyed all their good deeds? The list gets pretty long, right?

Now, you may say: well actually, they were living a double life and finally got caught. Yes, that may be true…but what do you do with all the good they accomplished on the positive side of their profile?

 Do those achievements, successes, and positive contributions mean nothing now? Does the bad truly outweigh the good?

They stopped at red lights. They stayed in their lanes on the freeway. They paid their taxes, went to worship services on Sundays and other designated days. They helped old ladies cross the street, said “yes Ma’am and no Sir” to their elders. They were model citizens in every way…except, there was this one wrong turn they took along their life journey.

Now that bad thing is publicly exposed. Media explodes with the news. Now they are an outcast, an undesirable, persona non grata, leper, pariah, reprobate, unwelcome guest at the door.

You know where I’m going with this. In your mind, you already have called the roll of people we all know who fit the description. Despite their wrongs, have we been correct to erase their good deeds forever from the annals of time?

Take for example Cesar Chavez, once-highly-revered labor union organizer and co-founder of United Farm Workers whose members largely were Latino migrants. After many years of silence, he finally was accused of sexually abusing women and girls. His name, image, and honorary dates are being erased across the nation.

There are countless cases of prominent Anglos who plummeted down from high positions under high beam spotlights. Former Republican U. S. president Richard Nixon — who resigned in 1974 after the Watergate scandal – is a prime example.

But beyond the majority population, following are some examples of national African Americans — coincidentally almost all males for whatever reason — whose unlawful behavior grabbed headlines:

The individuals and their convictions include:

• Sean John “P. Diddy” “Puff Daddy” Combs, rapper and record producer. Convicted of transportation a female for prostitution.
• R. Kelly, Grammy-winning R&B singer and record producer. For racketeering and sex trafficking.
• Michael Irvin, popular sports commentator and former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver. Drug possession and traffic violations, accusations of sexual assaults.
• Michael Vick, former NFL Atlanta Falcons quarterback. For running an illegal dogfighting ring.
• Michael Jackson, acclaimed pop and R&B recording artist and dancer. accused of child molestation.
• O. J. Simpson, NFL star running back. acquitted on charges of murdering two people, then served time for armed robbery and kidnapping.

In Dallas, various prominent and respected individuals – again largely male for whatever reason – also served time for various individual allegations. These charges included corruption, fraud, accepting bribes, tax evasion, extortion, and embezzlement. Some of the fallen high-ups include: Dwaine Caraway, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem; Don Hill, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem; James Fantroy Sr., former Dallas city council member; Al Lipscomb, civil rights activist and former Dallas city council member; Darren Reagan, community activist and head of Black State Employees Association of Texas (BSEAT); Carolyn Davis, former Dallas city council member; and Terri Hodge, Tx. St. Rep.(D-Dallas).

I was just thinking…what influences persuade a right-thinking person to detour from the straight and narrow path they were on? You might suggest it’s the attraction of money, power, fame, and material trinkets that money can buy. In the end, though, is it worth it all? Ask the individuals that we named.

During early development years, parents attempt to teach their children about consequences of breaking rules. Good behavior brings eventual rewards. Bad behavior brings punishment. Examples: talk back or mouth off, you get a swat across the face or strap across your bottom. As an adult, you rob, steal or break company rules, you go to jail, pay a huge fine, or get fired.

But back to that person who spends the majority of their life abiding by the law, then takes a wrong turn and wipes out all their good behavior. How should society respond?

I do not have a clear answer. I do know that the individuals we cited above excelled in various areas and left meaningful footprints. Could those positive footprints still be applauded, even while acknowledging the damage of their wrong turns?

Cosby’s entertainment imprint is deep, as is Chavez’s role in improving life and income for migrant workers. Al Lipscomb’s name was removed in 1990 from the Al Lipscomb State Fair Classic football game between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University. This, although he put in decades of hard work organizing Black community citizens in effective protests against racial inequities.

So, the question remains: what to retain about their lives and what to erase? May a search for the correct answer continue.

Dallasite Norma Adams-Wade is a Texas Metro News senior correspondent, The Dallas Morning News retired writer, and a National Association of Black Journalists founder.