Leadership and The Human Promise

For The Human Promise to become a reality the leaders within the various majority and minority communities, organizations, institutions, and agencies must acknowledge that there is a need for change. Each individual leader must become an agent of said change. These entities have to realize and own the responsibility of fostering and promoting a positive and constructive dialogue in society. Dr. King included the following words in the book, “I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches that Changed the World,” regarding leadership at the initial stages of the Civil Rights Movement. The description of leadership for the purpose of transcending The Dream to The Human Promise is relevant today.

God Give us Leaders!

A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;

Leaders whom the lust for of office does not kill;

Leaders whom the spoils of life cannot buy;

Leaders who possess opinions and a will;

Leaders who have honor; Leaders who will not lie;

Leaders who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!

Tall leaders, sun crowned, who live above the fog in public duty and private thinking.

Are these leaders out there?