2. Historical Context
• Du Bois was one of the prominent scholars during
the progressive era.
• He influenced studies in black communities
through his research.
• He wanted education to be a way to advance
justice for all no matter their background.
3. Characteristics of a great leader
• Du Bois studied extensively in one of the
prominent economic universities of his day in
Germany.
• He graduated from Harvard University and
conducted extensive research on labor issues
related to African- Americans.
4. Leadership actions.
• He created the NAACP, pioneered the Pan
African movement, and created the Crisis with
more than 100,000 subscribers.
• His research as a scholar created a foundation
for leading leadership ideas.
5. • He warned that blacks should not be observed
just as a group but it was important to identify
the class within their communities. Also he
encourage that not just technical skills should
be taught but education should be used as a
means of advancement.
6. How he inspired and mobilized others.
• He wrote several books like the Soul of Black
Folks.
• The books, research, and publications he did
highlighted the plight of African-Americans
and he gave economic reasons for advocating
justice.
7. Leadership Characteristics.
• Du Bois’s ideas are indicative of the dispersed
leadership theory.
• The dismal theory has also been used to
describe his economic theories and views on
social justice.
8. Different Historical Setting
• Du Bois will be successful in the sixties
because others were supporting the idea of
social justice for all races. He will have many
who support him combined with his
exceptional scholarly background he will have
supporters to create effective change.
9. Personal social influences.
• Experiences in society have encourage the
leadership view of social justice and dispersed
leadership. There are many technological
advancement which has brought different part
of the world closer. It is important to seek
social justice for all and allow everyone to
contribute to the team the best of their talent.
Editor's Notes
Library of Congress. Print and photography department. (2015) DuBois. Retrieved from: http://online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/ImageDetails/5?imageId=40218
During the progressive era in the United States most whites will contradict economic theories that man will seek his economic gain. They did this by constantly trying to keep blacks in low paying jobs. This was contradictory because by keeping the blacks in the low paying jobs it created an artificial supply of low income workers thus bringing down the wages of whites creating more racial tension (Oliver , 2014). It is similar to date when companies fail to hire blacks just because of color. From interviews with various blacks today it is evident that the problem still exist. Du Bois saw the challenges created by discrimination and set to conduct research to convince policy makers to stop discrimination
Oliver, L. (2014). W. E. B. Du Bois and the dismal science: Economic theory and social justice. American Studies, 59, 2 pg 49 – 70. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docview/1551974348/fulltextPDF?accountid=458
It does not help the economy when managers at companies hire employees because they look like them or have similar backgrounds because it is faulty economically in many fronts. First the best talent to do the job is not selected in this way, so the performance of the company suffers. Secondly diversity in a company brings creativity and advancement (Jehn, Northcraft, & Neale, 1999). Du Bois was a great leader because he recognized the importance of diversity in the workforce with equal opportunity during his era and for the future.
Jehn, K. A., Northcraft, G. B., & Neale, M. A. (December 1999). Why differences make a difference: A field study of diversity, conflict, and performance in workgroups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44, (4) 741 – 763.
Du Bois supported education as a means to liberate the oppressed and a way to create equal opportunity. He is considered one of the greatest scholars off all times irrespective of race. He published sixteen books and several articles. He started the National Association for the Advancement of People of Color (NAACP), pioneered the Pan African movement, and published the Crisis which had more than 100,000 subscribers. He participated in influencing the historical view of leadership.
He wanted the nation to see the poor black community not as a nuisance. He stated they were human with soul and the lack of education and poverty did not make them any less human (Du Bois, 1903). He went to live within the black communities in the south to study their lifestyles. He studied the history of labor issues affecting blacks. His studies in economics, politics, social science, and history inspired many.
Du Bois. W. E. B. (February, 1903). The souls of black folks. Atlanta, GA.
The two leadership characteristic to developed from his work are the dispersed leadership theory and social justice leadership. The dispersed leadership allows for everyone to contribute to the team (Konradt, 2013). The dismal theory explains that economics in a straight forward way ignores the plight of the poor, so combining economic theory and social justice helps solve the plight of the poor (Oliver, 2014). It is important to use leadership theories and economic theories for social justice to bring positive social change.
Konradt, U. (2013). Toward a theory of dispersed leadership in teams: Model, findings, and directions for future research. Leadership 10 (3) 289 – 307.
Oliver, L. (2014). W. E. B. Du Bois and the Dismal Science: Economic Theory and Social Justice. American Studies, 53 (2) 49-70
