The riot in Ferguson over the Michael Brown’s shooting, shows a glaring weakness within the black community … Lack of Leadership.
Prior to the announcement of no charges against Officer Wilson, the President, Attorney General, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson and others raised their voices of concern over the shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Wilson. Their voices was more of “rush to jury” than “innocent until proven guilty.”
This is very sad to see leaders like these use these words to add fuel to the fire rather than try to control and put out the fire that is already burning.
Let me hastily say that I’m not trying to use this post as one to make the case against or for these leaders. It’s more on the leadership component of their actions.
Here is where the glaring weakness shows up.
After the Grand Jury – they are the only group of people along with the judge and attorneys who had the privilege of hearing all the evidences – returned its findings, these leaders called upon the black community to heed the law and practice non-violence, and you know the rest of the story … most didn’t listen.
They looted and burned at their hearts content. They destroyed their own community with their very own hands.
I don’t listen to a lot of news, so I don’t know if these leaders have spoken out condemning these actions. I hope they have.
Growing up, I have often heard that “you’ll know the strength of the tea, the longer it stays in hot water.” I believe, you know the effectiveness and the strength of these leaders, when the “heat” (no pun intended) is turned up. And it was. Not even the most powerful man – the President – as we have fooled ourselves in thinking, could stop them. How come they were unable?
I believe it’s this: they aren’t the leaders of the black community as they think they are or they’ve been made out to be.
Could anyone have stopped them? Maybe no one at this point. There is a void of strong leadership right now. There’s not a voice like that of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Could he have stopped them?
Well, he was able to keep America from incinerating during the height of the civil rights movement or at least contain the fire. He was a voice and a leader. He had followers. Those who I mentioned above, maybe leaders, but where are their followers who are loyal to their voices?
Here is what Dr. King had to say in an interview on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace 50 years ago.
REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: Now what I’m saying is this: I would like for all of us to believe in non-violence, but I’m here to say tonight that if every Negro in the United States turns against non-violence, I’m going to stand up as a lone voice and say, “This is the wrong way!”
“I will never change in my basic idea that non-violence is the most potent weapon available to the Negro in his struggle for freedom and justice. I think for the Negro to turn to violence would be both impractical and immoral … riots are self-defeating and socially destructive.”
Such strength and clarity of voice. You hear a man with conviction and leadership. God help us find such a voice today to lead the black community and also our nation.
What’s your thoughts on this take on leadership? Again, I’m not debating, I’m open for dialog. Leave your comment below and enter the conversation.
