I haven’t seen those textbooks, but I’m guessing they didn’t. If they said “here are three scientists” (subtext: ”… whom you might want to use as role models if you’re that way inclined”) I don’t see a problem with that.
Perhaps, but I think this says more about subcultures in the U.S. than anything else. Do you think branco or moreno kids in Brazil would have any problem with adopting Pelé as a role model due to his significant African descent?
I don’t know enough about Brazilian society to have much idea about your final question. I expect your first sentence is right—it’s not hard to imagine variant societies in which being black is no obstacle to taking Einstein or Curie as a role model—but if that’s meant to make something I’ve said wrong, I’m not seeing why.
Perhaps, but I think this says more about subcultures in the U.S. than anything else. Do you think branco or moreno kids in Brazil would have any problem with adopting Pelé as a role model due to his significant African descent?
I don’t know enough about Brazilian society to have much idea about your final question. I expect your first sentence is right—it’s not hard to imagine variant societies in which being black is no obstacle to taking Einstein or Curie as a role model—but if that’s meant to make something I’ve said wrong, I’m not seeing why.