In today’s society, we as a people depend on our generation of children to get high-quality educations in order for America as a whole to have a brighter future. With President Barack Obama becoming the first black president, our children have some Barack Obama, many celebrities are seen as role models to teens across the world to look to as an outstanding role model in our nation. Like President world. Some people argue that this is harmful to children because many celebrities send a lot of misleading messages through the media. In contrast, others believe that celebrities as role models give children the courage and confidence to achieve goals by being hard-working, strong, and driven. Furthermore, the topic of celebrities as role models is one of great controversy and the conversation of it is very profound. Celebrities as role models can be a bad thing, good thing, or it could maybe even be both.
 The word role model, for some, is a very common word, but still many people do not know the true meaning of it. A role model is defined as a person who serves as an example of the values, attitudes, and behaviors

associated with a role and how that person distinguish themselves in such a way that others admire and want to emulate them. The word, which was first termed “reference idols”, was established in 1957 by Robert K. Merton. It took years to come up with the term we use today. Role models are part of what makes America’s children what they become in the future. Celebrities have been some of the biggest influences in shaping young children’s future, being either bad or good role models for children. The media, nearly all the time, draws in teens to the lifestyles of celebrities. This mainly because the image of celebrities in the media is widely displayed and offers a numerous amount of messages to teens both positive and negative.
 As stated before the media serves a large part in the connection between celebrities and young teens. In fact, in 2008, statistics show that 16  percent of children ages 8 through 18 were listed as heavy media users and watched media for 10 ½ hours or more each day.  The impact of media on children is steady growing each day through magazines, movies, music videos, newspapers, TV shows, video games, music, internet, and much

more. In many situations celebrities have a larger effect on teens than some of the parents. The celebrities role models displayed by the media are all very diverse. While some “celebs” are bad models for our young teenagers, some are surprisingly excellent models to our children.
 Just because a large selection of celebrities choose to do bad things we have to remember they are just people. No human is perfect, that being said we all have flaws. Sure, one celebrity might not be the best leader, but there are many others out here that are great role models. It takes a lot to be a good role model. A good role model is someone who’s aware of the fact that the decisions they make not only effect them but also the people around that look up to them. A good role model also exemplifies someone who is respectful and understands along with accepts the fact that they’re wrong. Along with making wise decisions, a good role model also shows a large quantity of confidence and perseverance which allows them to successfully fulfill their goals, dreams, and destinations in life. All of these characteristics are what set aside the good from the bad role models.
 Role models, in most cases, are extremely popular with children. That’s why celebrities have it so hard to be good role models to young teens, fact being that so many things are to be restricted form the lives of these children. Along with the good celebrity role models that children have there is also an equal share of celebrities that serve as bad role models. Bad role models are those people who chooose to make wild decisions without a care of the impact it may have on others, particularly teens, around them. Usually these ar the type of celebrities always in the tabloids. They are the party people, drinkers, clubbers, smokers, and relationship hoppers. These type of people are what make many believe that celebrities are all bad role models. The public sees them as irresponsible, untrustworthy, and unreliable. Though, celebrities like this aren’t intentionally displaying these terrible habits, still they are seen as the worse type of role model there is. Not only are celebrities like this troublesome, but their backgrounds in the media are usually those that are trailed with a very bad reputation.
 Both of these types or role models have their way of describing the issue of celebrities as role models. While one tells you why it’s a bad idea the other tells you why it’s a wonderful idea!                        


People have argued about the issue of celebrities as role models for years. Various reasons of the effectiveness of celebrity role models have been thrown around. There are numerous amounts of reasons our nation has supplied to back up why celebrities role models are bad ideas and why they’re good ideas.
 In many cases, it is difficult to admire celebrities because a lot of them show such poor respect for others as well as themselves. They get caught up in the all the glam and forget that millions of teens world wide are, nearly everyday, watching their every step. Many celebrities, such as Paris Hilton, are seen in the tabloids almost everyday with a new story consisting of either smoking, drinking, fighting, clubbing, or relationships. Teenagers, being learning children who many times adapt by trend, sometimes begin to developed these horrible images of these celebrities and engage in these tasteless acts. And they do it just because their “favorite singer” does it also. This is the main reason why many people see celebrities as bad role models for our youth.
 Though you may see many celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay
                                                                                                                     
Lohan, and the Olsen Twins in the tabloids being exposed in several ways, not all celebrities are distinguished  as bad role models. Thus, many see some celebrities as some of the best role models offered to young children. For example, most young girls want to be seen as beautiful. Alicia Keys, an American recording artist, musician, and actress, shows young girls that you can still be seen as a very beautiful and sexy young lady without showing off your body with provocative clothing and sexual lyrics. Many others like Ms. Keys are what make so many see celebrities as good role models. Teens are able to relate to celebrities, such as singers, on a level of assurance without the pressure of feeling misunderstood like that of relating to an adult or relative who judges them or does not see their point of view. Countless amounts of people believe this to be what a child needs in a good role model. There are a list of celebrites who I personally consider good role models, a main one being P. Diddy.
 P. Diddy, whose real name is Sean John Combs, is one of the most profound celebrities we have in the spotlight as a good role model. Not only

does he serve as a great role model for children but he happens to also be the role model of many adults too! P. Diddy, who was raised in Harlem, New York, began his career at the early age of 14. After high school, Diddy attended Howard University in Washington D.C.  where he furthered his education. Today, he is a multi-talented hip-hop performer, producer, actor, and businessman known for hit records, a clothing line, colognes, movie roles, and occasional gossip column appearances. He has had the confidence to triumph through all the hardships that come along with becoming a celebrity. He has been in two very famous productions, one being the feature film Monster’s Ball and the other being in the Broadway play A Raisin In The Sun. Besides his films, P. Diddy was named the biggest hip-hop impresario of the mid-'90s. He created a multi-million-dollar industry around Bad Boy Entertainment, with recordings by the Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Faith Evans, 112, and Total which were all produced and masterminded by Diddy himself. Not only did Diddy record Hip Hop albums, but he also was a man of God and during the Summer of 2001 he released a Gospel album titled, Thank You. Diddy is also a member of many organiztions in which he helps out others who are in need of it. Such organiztions include American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, American Federation of Musicians, Daddy's House Programs, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Janice Combs Endowed Scholarship Fund (that one in which he is the founder). Throughout all that Diddy had to face he has showed the confidence and ambition of a true role model for any young child in the world. Some of  his many awards and acheivements include the 3M Visionary Award for Producing in 1994, the Impace Award of Merit for Creative Excellence in 1994, the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award for "Juicy" in 1995, the Gavin Rap Indie (Dist. by a Major) of the Year in 1995, the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, with Faith Evans and 112, and for Best Rap Album in 1998, the Howard University, Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement in 1999, a Council of Fashion Designers of America award for his clothing line “Sean John”, and a Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, with Murphy Lee and Nelly, for "Shake Ya Tailfeather” in 2003. Not only has P. Diddy prospered in being an superb entertainer himself, but he has also helped to make the dreams of aspiring youngsters come true. In 2002, he developed a reality series called Making The Band where he gave young adults the opportunity to compete to be in a contracted recording

group so they could have the chance to become celebrities in the industry. Followed by this, in 2003 Diddy ran in the New York City Marathon and raised $2,000,000 for the educational system for the children of New York. Aside from all the glam and glory, Diddy is also a family man. Though he has had his ups and downs with relationships he has never failed in being a divine father to his all six of his beloved children. P. Diddy has truly proven to be one of the greatest role models of all time. He is proof that not all celebrities are bad role models.
 With outstanding role models sich as P. Diddy, it’s hard to believe that there are bad celebrity role models out there, but indeed there are. Yes, it is essential that as a role model you exemplify that trying your best and doing whatever it takes to succeed is always true, but many have taken the pharse “Whatever it takes!”, to a new meaning. One, who I believe, is definitely one of the worst role models in the industry would have to be Karrine “Superhead” Steffans. Karrine, referred to as Superhead is a former music video vixen and porn star who wrote two books that made the New York

Times best seller list. Although her books were a huge success, this does not surpass the negativity that goes along with Superhead and all that she’s done in her past. Superhead was 21 years old when she made her video debut, but that was not her first big time in the spotlight with a wide selection of celebrities. Shortly after being introduced to the industry life and the game she quickly became a full-time booty shaking, breast baring dancer—but this success came at a price. In 2005, Ms. Karrine Superhead” Steffans published her book entitled “Confessions of a Video Vixen”. That is where everything first publicly came out. In the book, Superhead revealed secrets about all the men she had slept with during her rise as a video vixen. She stated that she had been stripping and sleeping with celebrities since the age of 16. This long list of men, and even women, includes celebrities such as Bobby Brown (while Whitney Houston knew), Irv Gotti who passed her off to his friends Ja Rule and Jay Z just to name a few, Shaq and after that him depositing $10,000 in he bank account for her services, Usher, Vin Diesel, DMX, Xzibit, Dr. Dre, Ice-T, Kool G who she has a son with, and currently she’s dating  Bill Maher. I’m not downing her for sleeping with men but after doing it she publicly speaks about it in a manner that most parents would find disrespectful. In my opinion she is byfar one of the most terrible role model a child, especially a young lady, could have.
 So In Conclusion, everyone in some way needs someone as a role model. Role Models are the people that a person, usually a child, looks to for guidance to emulate that specific person. The controversial topic of celebrities as role models has been around for several years now. Many believe that celebrities are not good role models because a lot of them are in connection with sex, drugs, alcohol, and a number of other negative things that should not be imitated by a young child. On the other hand, many Americans believe that celebrities as role models are a great idea. They see celebrities as encouraging teens to be confident, ambitious, and driven to succeed at any thing that they try. They also believe that it is easier for a child to relate to some celebrities rather than talk with adults all of the time. I believe that while some celebrities are some of the most negative people in the entertainment business, others are key examples of what it takes for me to meet my goals and be successful in life. I think many celebrities serve as great role models and furthermore I believe celebrities ROCK!!!

CELEBRITIES AS ROLE MODELS



THE GOOD AND THE BAD
                  By: Arnesha Archie