The idea of character has been on my mind of late. Character, of course, has multiple meanings, from a symbol to a person. It even can be descriptive as in “He’s quite a character.” Which gets at the most intriguing application of the term: a person’s character. Besides being one, everyone has one. We’re all characters with a character.
A person’s character is not only descriptive, it’s also telling about their values, attitudes, and more. Some people are of good character, and others of ill repute. Those of good character need not be saints. Few if any humans truly are. And those of ill-repute need not be archcriminal types. In fact, they can be rich, powerful, and famous, although in an unadmirable way.
In A World Appears, which I’ll explore more deeply in a future piece, Michael Pollan writes about how one’s self—their consciousness, thus character—is largely shaped by their memories. We’re all products of our past, beginning with the circumstances of our birth and upbringing through our young adult years, and for some, even longer. If one has had a generally positive life experience, it’s likely they’ll develop a more embracing view of the world. But likely doesn’t mean will.
And if one has had a challenging early life experience, it’s likely they’ll have a more hardened take on life. But like it is with positivity, likely doesn’t will. Some, if not many, who were raised in a challenging environment, don’t allow themselves to fall into the trap of negativity. Through hard work and determination, they rise above their circumstances. Jonah Coleman, the Denver Broncos newest running back who graduated from the University of Washington with a 3.94 GPA, is one.
Jonah came of age in the gang-riddled area of Stockton, CA. His dad was a gangbanger who felt more than one bullet pierce his skin. But Jonah said no that lifestyle, and with his dad’s encouragement and support, he became determined to not only succeed in life by getting a solid education but also to make a good man of himself. And here he is, a potentially great NFL player.
Then there are those who were born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouth. Never having suffered from want, they’re unable to truly understand how hard life can be for others. That isn’t their fault, but like it is with everyone, whether poor kids in poverty-stricken, crime-riddled circumstances or scions of the financial and social elite, how one reacts to their life experiences forms the mark of character.
The late Bobby Kennedy—RFK, Sr.—who was President John F. Kennedy’s brother and Attorney General and a senator from New York, grew up in wealth. Because of his sheltered life, early on he was unaware of the brutality in many peoples’ lives.
But a marvelous intervention occurred. As Bobby grew in awareness socially and politically, in February 1968 he undertook a tour of Appalachia where many were eking out a subsistent existence, often living in ramshackle houses that were little more than shacks. Malnutrition and ill-health were rampant. And perhaps worse for Blacks, many lived in fear of Klansmen who spread terror with impunity across the South.
Bobby was aware of that, but only from a distance. When he did see it firsthand, he was aghast. By stepping out of his privileged bubble and getting his shoes muddied and hands dirty, literally and figuratively, he rose above his elite status and became a vocal leader for the eradication of poverty and an advocate for uplifting people who were mired in poverty and ignorance. It was at that point he underwent a shift in consciousness.
It’s several generations between Jonah and Bobby and a gulf between their circumstances, but a thread runs through them via their characters: nobility, which Merriam-Webster defines as “the quality or state of being noble in character, quality, or rank.”
Jonah’s job was to take care first of himself and then his family. He did and is. He’s offered to relocate his dad out of Stockton, but his dad has declined for now. I imagine in due time, Jonah will go back to Stockton and use his status to do all he can to encourage and help other youth who are likewise beset by their circumstances.
By rising above his elevated station in life, Bobby demonstrated clearly that empathy was a defining characteristic of his character. How many of the ultra-rich can claim that?
How one responds to the conditions of their lives speaks to their character. Some choose wisely. And others, as the old knight says in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, choose poorly.
