Leadership in the African American Community - Coursework Example

Leadership in the African American Community al Affiliation Leadership in the African American Community Significance of leadership in the African American community Several studies have been made over the years about the emergence of the leadership of African Americans. The introduction of African Americans in USA was not good because they were brought to the country as slaves. However, through the assistance of more liberal white American citizens and other strong-willed African Americans, their lives slowly changed to the better. They then began to fight against prejudices that beleaguered them. The emergence of leadership among the African Americans despite the hardships they faced proved to be an important aspect especially for their survival. Since then, African Americans have contributed to the growth of the American society in terms of education, politics business and arts. Leadership has been defined in many different ways by different personalities. The definition used in this paper is that, leadership is a process where an individual influences a group of people in order to achieve a common goal. Many African American leaders’ actions have left significant effects in the African-American community. Some of the renowned leaders include Martin Luther King, A Philip Randolph, President Barack Obama and other women like Maya Angelou, who was a civil rights activist. The first significance brought by an African-American leader is the improvement of health care that has been ensured by the current president of America President Barrack Obama. Over five presidents of he USA failed to create the universal health that was signed in 2010. The affordable care act, signed in the year 2010, covered 32 million uninsured Americans. It mandated a suite of experimental measures to cut health care costs among the citizens of America. The passing of this health care reform problem solved one of America’s long-time fiscal problems (Mason, 2001). Other significant actions brought about by Obama include passing of the stimulus package, elimination of Osama Bin Laden, initiating the Wall Street reform, and contributing to peace initiatives all over the world especially in Afghanistan and Iraq. These are just some of the few significant actions that President Obama has achieved as a black leader. The passing of the stimulus package entailed signing 787 billion dollar American Recovery and reinvestment act in 2009. The act was meant to spur economic growth amid greatest recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment went down significantly after stimulus package went into effect. Twelve months later, the private sector began to create more jobs than it was losing. It has since created more than 3.7 million jobs in America. Obama will also be remembered for the elimination of Osama Bin Laden, a notorious terrorist leader. He sent Special Forces who got rid of the terrorist leader in his Abbottabad secret hideout in Pakistan. By initiating a drawdown of war in Afghanistan, Obama ensured the reduction of the number of forces in this particular country. From a number of 101000 troops, the number had reduced to 91000 by 2011. In 2010, Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform and consumer protection act. This was to regulate the financial sector after its actions caused the Great Recession. The law tightens capital requirements in financial institutions and large banks in America. It also requires derivatives to be sold on mandates and clearing houses that are provided by large banks. In 2009, Obama injected sixty-two billion dollar into federal money to ailing Chrysler and GM in return for equity agreements and stakes for massive restructuring. The auto industry sector has added over 100000 jobs (Rice, 2011). In the year 2011, the Big Three automakers all gained market share for the first time in two decades. Obama’s leadership has provided a good example for African Americans to emulate showing that one’s hard work will surpass any difficulty to create major important opportunities for success (Mason, 2001). African American leadership has remained significant for fighting for the rights of Black Americans. Personalities like Martin Luther King showed great efforts in their leadership trying to fight for civil rights. Martin Luther was an American leader in the African-American civil rights movement. He is known best for his role in the advancement of civil rights using non-violent means based on his Christian beliefs. He had become a civil rights activist early in his career (Rice, 2011). In 1955, He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became the first president of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as he was one of its founders. King was awarded the Nobel peace prize in his works of combating racial inequality through nonviolence. King is also remembered for organizing the 1965 Selma Montgomery marches and the following year took the movement north to Chicago. In his late years before his death, he worked in poverty and spoke against the Vietnam War. King also became a pastor of a Baptist church where his primary influence was Jesus Christ. In his speeches as a pastor, his main quotes were from Jesus Christ’s teachings. His main teaching was based on the commandment of Jesus love your neighbor as you love yourself. As a leader of the SCLC, he maintained a policy of not publicly endorsing any political party or candidate. He believed in non-alignment. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, King is remembered as a leader who led it for 385 days. He was arrested during the campaign that concluded with a United States Court ruling in Browder v Gayle that ended racial segregation on Montgomery buses. King’s leadership provided motivation to African Americans at a time when they were facing a lot of difficulties and discrimination (Mason, 2001). African American leadership also made significant changes in the labor sectors. Asa Philip Randolph is a leader who will be remembered for making significant steps in fighting for labor rights among African Americans. He was a leader in the African-American civil rights movements, socialist political movements, and the American labor movement. He organized and led Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). This was the first predominantly African American labor union. It was the first serious labor institution for employees of the Pullman Company that was a major employer of African Americans. The railroads expanded dramatically by the early 20th century and jobs also increased. The fact that porters were not under Union meant that they suffered poor working conditions and were underpaid. Under Randolph’s directions, BSCP made an enrollment of 51%of porters within a year. Pullman responded to this action with violence and firings in protest. Randolph later planned a strike in 1928 after failing to win meditation under Watson Parker railway act. After the election of President Franklin Roosevelt in the year 1932, African Americans saw a significant change as the BSCP was granted rights under the federal law. Members of the Brotherhood increased to more than 7000. After many years of struggle, the Pullman Company finally began to negotiate with the Brotherhood in 1935. As a leader, Randolph also emerged as a visible spokesman for the African American civil rights. In 1941, he and two others proposed a march on Washington. This was to protest against racial discrimination in war industries and access defense to employment. Randolph threatened to have 50000 African Americas match in the city that was later cancelled after President Franklin issued a fair employment act. This action was considered as important civil rights victory. Randolph contributed to the African American Community in the sense that he encouraged people to fight for their rights rather than fear or lay back and accept discrimination as a normal thing. The leadership of African Americans brought significant changes to justice among African Americans. Ida B Wells remains a leader who left a great legacy as a suffragist, black women’s rights advocate and an ardent defender of democracy. She began fighting for gender and racial discrimination while in Memphis. In 1906, she joined with WEB Dubois and others to form the Niagara movement. She was one of the two African American women to sign the call to form National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She was viewed s one of the most radicalized leaders of those who organized NAACP and marginalized positions within its leadership. She also became the first black woman to run for a public office in the USA after running for a seat as a senator from Illinois. She spent her life crusading for justice. She left an impact on the history of African Americans for fighting for the justice for black people. Wells offered important help to African American women showing them that they could take leadership positions and be successful in contributing positively to the society. To sum up, African American leadership has created positive results in many fields. African Americans have brought changes in the civil rights movements addressing issues of racialism, justice and democracy among other issues. For example, President Obama has introduced Obama-care, created more job opportunities for Americans in the US, established diplomatic relations with USA with other countries and reduced terrorism among other important milestones during his tenure. His leadership has become significant for other for other African Americans to emulate (Rutledge, 2008). Other African American leaders of the past that have had significant effects to the African American community include Martin Luther and Ida B Wells-Barnett. These two fought for civil rights of people of color in U.S and ensured that they discovered their rights. Martin Luther, for instance, ensured that rights were not discriminated and were treated with equality by the whites. Asa Randolph fought for the welfare of labor among African Americans. Together with others, he started a labor movement and became its first president. His leadership was significant for the creation of many job opportunities for Americans. Therefore, African American leadership has been important and has improved the lives of African Americans. Because of this, African Americans have improved their lives and achieved success in different areas. Leadership in African American community has brought more positive changes in their society. My leadership qualities and effects in my college search Throughout my life, I have expressed my leadership skills and qualities in different situations that provided me with different leadership opportunities. For instance, some of the leadership opportunities that I have had include being the captain of my high school JV basketball team, captain of my high school basketball team, community service worker and event organizer (351 hours) and an elementary school tutor. During these times, leading people was the most important issue, which means that I was supposed to be organized, be a role model, and provide direction and correct people where they were wrong. These are some of the responsibilities I had in these roles. The leadership qualities I have had have affected in my college search in the sense that they have helped me get opportunities to join several colleges. I have been called for admission into different colleges because of my leadership skills especially in sports and the ability to motivate people for a common course. My leadership skills and qualities have proven to be important n top of my academic qualifications because they have given be a competitive edge over other applicants. References Mason, P. (2001). African Americans, labor, and society: organizing for a new agenda. Detroit: Wayne State University Press Rice, C. (2011). No higher honor: A memoir of my years in Washington. New York: Crown Publishers. Rutledge, L. (2008). Motivation and the professional African American woman. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. Read More