short critical reading passage

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1

<p>The belief that it is harmful to the Black community for authors to explore the humanity of our leaders can have troubling effects. At the least, it promotes the belief that our heroes have to be perfect to be useful. At worst, it censors our full investigation of Black life. If our paintings of that life are stock and cramped, their colors drab and predictable, the representations of our culture are likely to be untrue. They will not capture the breadth and complexity of Black identity. </p>

<p>Black leaders have sometimes been portrayed as <above reproach="">. Why is that an answer?</above></p>

2

<p>The author is stating that there is a belief among society that critically analyzing Black leaders is unheard of (in a way). We can imply from this explicit information that the leaders have indeed been idealized. “above reproach” paraphrases this implication.</p>

3

<p>but doesn’t reproach mean “blame”?? so how does that relate to “idealized”?</p>

4

<p>“above reproach” simply means that the leaders are perfect (not blamed for anything).</p>