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Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - IX. Leadership and Concerted Action - 37. Compromise Leadership - 7. Moral Consequences - 8. Leadership Rivalry - 9. Qualifications
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Chapter 37. Compromise Leadership 775
comes to justify the common suspicions around him by becoming a self-
seeker, and opportunist. The anger in the Negro community against un-
scrupulous leaders is often directed against the fact that they do not get more
for themselves out of their unscrupulousness in sacrificing the common
interest:
That [leadership] which can be bought ... is usually purchaseable for “peanut
money.” The scorn for the practice among Negroes, frequently expressed is often less
due to the fact that Negro leaders “sell out” than because they do so so cheaply.^®
8. Leadership Rivalry
Since power and prestige are scarce commodities in the Negro commu-
nity, the struggle for leadership often becomes ruthless. Such is the situation
even in those fields where there is little white interference.^^ White influ-
ence is likely to increase bitter personal rivalry, as the leader comes to
operate as a single individual, trusted by the whites but generally without
any organized backing gr control in the Negro community and without
a cause or an issue.
For the same reasons this rivalry does not provide a check on dishonesty.
It rather loosens still more the loyalty of the Negro community. It also
provides the influential whites with increased possibilities to ^^divide and
rule.” And it defiles still more the atmosphere around Negro leadership.
The rivalry, the envy, and the disunity in the Negro community, and the
destructive effects, are felt by even the poorest Negro, who will every-
where tell the inquirer that ^^Negroes just can^t stick together.” “I.ambast-
ing our leaders is quite a popular pastime,” observes James Weldon John-
son.^® Under those circumstances the attainment of Negro leadership also
tends to ^Mo something” to the individual Negro:
For when ^ value is scarce its possession tends to inflate the possessor. The Negro
leader often quickly puffs up when given power. He “struts” and pats up a big
front, or puts on “airs,” often indulges in exhibitionism. It is often truly said that
the Negro leader “can’t stand power.” Actually, there is a sort of ambivalence which
characterizes the attitudes of Negro leaders. The leader will pay lip-service to the
concepts of democracy for he understands their significance and appeal to the Negro
as a group. But in his personal views and relationship the Negro leader is ordinarily
very allergic to democracy—^he prefers to play the role of the aristocrat, or the dictator
or tyrant. For leadership itself is a form of escape}^
9. Qualifications
It should be observed that these detrimental effects upon public confi-
dence and morals in the Negro community are derivative from the basic
lack 0] democracy inherent in the Southern caste situation^ atvd^ turlVver,
that they become increased by the rising Negro protest as long as it is
denied free outlet. They have close parallels in all other subordinate groups.
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