<p>why is the answer "above reproach?"</p>
<p>The passage basically describes how historians/authors ignore the faults of black leaders in order to shield the black community and thus "promote the belief that our heroes have to be perfect to be useful." The humanity of black leaders (i.e. their failures) is ignored.</p>
<p>The answer is above reproach because the author of the passage describes the tendency for historians to put black leaders on a pedestal</p>
<p>Definition of above reproach is: such that no criticism can be made; perfect.</p>