J^ollowing a JCing
By Sharonda Sheppard
feature
It can undoubtedly be said that the peak of Black
societal advancement in America occurred under the late,
great Dr. Martin Luther King. A charismatic and proficient
leader, Dr. King, along with his loyal counterparts, aided the
Black race into reaching higher heights in a racism-infested
society. Reflecting upon his legendary achievements such as
the Alabama bus boycott of 1955 and the Civil Rights Act of
1964, Dr. King died as an undisputed legend; not only in
Black America, but in all of America.
However, Black Americans today have found them
selves unable to claim a leader with whom the majority of
the race can relate. As they
still press for social, politi-
reflect back and analyze the qualities that made Dr. King a
successful and profound leader. According to Professor Hall,
one reason for King’s effectiveness was his ability to work
productively alongside others. King worked strenuously
with loyal counterparts such as the late NAACP president
Medgar Evers, Jesse Jackson, Hosea Williams, and
Reverend Ralph Abernathy. King also received the aid of
President Johnson in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
and the Voting Rights Act of 1964. According to Professor
Hall, neither Jackson nor Farrakhan has the kind of stature
that King possessed in order to draw the big names of pow-
erful people.
Hall also says
cal, and economic advance- Black America httS been left to question the lack that King held the quali-
ment, their movement r JpndershiD within the Black community communica-
ahead has been considered wunin me DIUCK Lumniunuy.
by some as being “a little According tO UNC Africun-American Studies munication skills
sluggish.” Confronted with professor. Perry Hall, it is no question that Black ^im to speak
the unfortunate con- • , i j ^ fashion that would
tiunuance of Black on america has not seen another charismatic leader
touch the heart of com-
Biack violence, the low sincc the death of Dr. King.
ranks in the school system,
arrests of Black youth, and.
increasing number of teenage pregnancies, Black America
screams out for a new leader.
Black America has been left to question the lack of leader
ship within the Black community. According to UNC
African-American Studies professor. Perry Hall, it is no
question that Black America has not seen another charismat
ic leader since the death of Dr. King.
“Dr. King is a hard act to follow,” Hall says. “But,
Reverend Jesse Jackson managed to carry King’s legacy to
another level with his run for presidency in the 1980’s.”
Hall commented on Jackson’s run for presidency as
being “historic” but also stated that “Jackson’s moment of
appearance has passed.”
Minister Louis Farrakhan from the Nation of Islam
has been looked upon as a potential leader for the Black
community. Under his guidance, he managed to gather of a
million Black men in Washington D.C. for the Million-Man
March of 1995. This spiritual gathering was said to have
been the cause of a significant decrease in Black violence.
“Louis Farrakhan is the single, most dynamic
leader on the scene who has displayed much effectiveness,”
Hall comments.
The question left to be asked is “What qualities
make a considered leader a good leader?” One often has to
mon folks but also touch
the heart of the elite. He
was a calm and rational
figure which enabled him to get through to a lot of people.”
He mentioned that in order for a new leader to be as produc
tive, they would have to “have the courage of their convic
tions, like Louis Farrakhan; but they would need to have a
little more tolerance. They will need to be able to find com
mon ground and be able to present society to Black people
in a way that Black people will understand.”
Most important of all. Hall said that good leader
ship comes from the people-Black people. “Leaders depend
upon the leadership of their constituents,” During the Civil
Rights Movement, Black people were on the move a little
more than Black people are today. They were prompted by
their current position in a racist society. Black America’s
determination to move forward in the 1960’s despite all
obstacles is what pushed them ahead. Dr. King, however,
was a guide or a coach as they shoved forward. He was their
mouthpiece to an almost deaf society, which kept Black
America motivated to push harder.
“If Black had not been on the move in the 60’s,
there is a chance athat Dr. King may not have been as effec
tive,” Hall said “Black America today has got to get on the
move. It’s going to have to start with people in the commu
nity— building from the ground up.”
THE BLACK INK
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1997
17