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Learning from Famous Leaders

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Learning From Famous Leaders – Written Assignment Presented to the Faculty of Eastern University In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Bachelor of Arts in Management of Information Systems Ethical Character of Leadership OM 440 Instructor Sharon McGee Leadership is a concept that has many characteristics associated with it, but may be best understood by how effective an individual or group is at leading others to accomplish a goal. This paper will look at some leadership characteristics demonstrated by Marcus Garvey, who established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica, West Indies in 1914. Garvey founded the UNIA to elevate the economic, cultural and political lives of blacks …show more content…

DuBois projected the image of a confident, hostile, and reserved individual. In contrast, Garvey initially came across as easy-going and flamboyant. However, he flaunted his blackness wherever he went. Black pride and black identity were the cornerstones of his philosophy, and they vibrated through everything he said and did. The racial pride exhibited by Garvey fueled his vision of political and economic independence for blacks. Garvey emphasized that any that any political or social gains made by blacks would be fleeting without an economic foundation. Garvey understood that one of the most vital characteristics of an effective leader is their ability to communicate their vision and continually reaffirm it (Phillips, D. T., p. 162). Garvey communicated his vision by creating a set of goals and objectives that are defined in the UNIA charter (Yuen, A., 2007), and in the Negro World newspaper. He also realized that blacks needed to have a tangible symbol of this vision, and more importantly, needed to believe that his vision could be put into practice. To this end, he implemented several economic ventures, most notably the Black Star Line, an enterprise intended to provide a means for blacks to return to Africa while also enabling black people around the Atlantic to exchange goods and services. The company's three ships were owned and operated by blacks and made travel and trade possible between

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