African American Community Leaders Research Paper

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Pages: 6

Leadership within the African American community epitomizes the spirit and resilience of people in the face of adversity. From battling the issues of slavery and further segregation to a contemporary fight for equality and justice, African American leaders have been symbolized as a guiding light against discrimination. The roles of these leaders in advocating for their communities remain important today. Emerging during times of great uncertainty and hardship, they inspired movements that would shape American history in a positive and progressive light. Their courage, determination, and unwillingness to accept the status quo have inspired future generations to continue the fight and pursuit of equality and justice. The highest peak of African American …show more content…
Charismatic community leaders are personified by their powerful speeches and dedication to equality, like Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and H.R.P. Brown. Transformational leadership mainly involves inspiring and motivating others toward collective goals, promoting change within the community, and expressing empowerment and hope to the community. The transformational leadership model is epitomized in the example of Ella Baker, a passionate activist who ensured local communities were empowered in their activism through grassroots organizing during the Civil Rights Movement. Authentic leadership consists of being relationally transparent, honest, and “authentic” to the shared values a community possesses or adheres to. Fannie Lou Hamer was the epitome of authentic leadership, given her passion and honesty toward her people, by fighting for their equal right to vote and promoting change through community and administrative organizational efforts. These leadership styles resonate the most with the African American community, largely due to their ability to achieve communal support, empowerment, and reflection of their