Here Lies A Man – 2
Patterson, who was black, had decided that the world champion of boxing must be moral as well as a skilled boxer.
Even then role models were in vogue. And Floyd Patterson, when he looked in the mirror, saw a worthy role model. Whereas Sonny, when he looked in the mirror, saw a snake coming out of the darkness. His self-perception was modeled after those around him, the way they perceived him.
So much for role models.