Leaders have some outstanding characteristics and attributes that can be seen in their actions, decisions and the influence they have on their followers. Frederick Douglass (February 1818– February 20, was an American orator, writer, social reformer, and political leader, who portrayed strong leadership characters and attributes; with his leadership, he was able to fight against slavery in the United States.
The main character traits that can be observed in Frederick are self-confidence, emotional stability and selflessness; this paper discusses three leadership personality traits portrayed by the leader.
Frederick Douglass Character Traits: Self-confidence
Fredrick was a slave himself in America but managed to escape from a slavery camp via boarding a train to Havre de Grace, Maryland ; this was after three attempts to escape, after the successful one, his leadership traits started to become more open to the public domains. His efforts to deliver the slaves from the oppressions they were facing from their masters portray a person with self confidence and believe in himself.
As a leader, he formed the abolitionist movement and started writing materials that counterattacked advocators of slave trade and slavery. From this first move, his character to question and demand for his followers’ rights is seen; he stood strong against those people who were of the view that slaves had no intellectual capacity to function. When presenting his augments using human rights meetings and his antislavery writings, he used his eloquence to defend the rights of slaves.
During the time, slave trade was seen as legitimate and any slave who dared to rebel or argue against the trade was seen as an enemy of the states; however using his self-confidences, charisma and boldness, he stood against the allegations to fight for the rights of staffs.
The leader’s self-confidence was seen in his strong believe that blacks, Native Americans, Female and the Asians have equality; this was in the times that the Americans have special rights and they could override other people. When he was addressing people either slaves or the Northerners, he was never being arrogant but ensured that he drove the point that he wanted; he was described by the many as a man of humility (McFeely 31-78). The leader did not discriminate on either race, but he was advocating for equality and respect for humanity.
In his first book called, “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave”, its one of the interesting materials in history where he describes how he attempted to escape in vain; it portrayed a leader who was driven by self confidence and the need to try again and again.
Frederick Douglass Character Traits: Decisiveness
The success that Fredrick got was based on these strategic and timely decisions that he had to make at different times; when making decisions, he was making decisions that were sound and applicable in the environment that he is operating in at a certain period. When presenting his decisions, it portrayed a person of high moral standing and one who clearly understood the decision that he wanted to make at a particular time.
The book was so humorous that he feared that he would be enslaved again for the weaknesses that he portrayed in the American lifestyle and how he was able to trick them with the attire he wore when he was boarding a train to escape.
In the most remarkable speech that he gave on July 4, 1852 in an American national independence day, the leader stood composed and using selected words that portrayed high intelligence and high degree of quality decisions as well stability, he condemned the lords for using the system to oppress slaves. He was confident enough to address in a like “negative” speech or a speech that differed from what had been expected by the inviters (political leaders).
When he was presenting a speech he was able to move the crowds and able to command respect and follower ship; he could talk of a serious thing with much humor and emotional intelligence that even the people that the speech was targeted to attacking feel appreciated (Gates 23-67).
Frederick Douglass Character Traits: Selflessness
When Fredrick was escaping from his masters, he was using plans that involved getting people’s confidence to running away: he lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts and in New York of which all were new places that he needed to adopt and develop friends who would stand by his side when he stood against oppression that was evident in the economy.
To be a leader that he was, he needed large support from the people that he represented or whom he fought for their rights; with this he ought to be a person who was sociable and had good people skills; the success of Fredrick can be interpolated in that line. The drive that kept him moving was in his selflessness and desire to serve others.
To get his education that seemed then to be limited to African-Americans more so if one was a slave, he was driven by his enthusiasm to learn to read and inform himself on the oppressions they were going through as well as how he would liberate his people.
The leader made sure that he attended Abolitionists’ meeting and subscribed to William Lloyd Garrison’s weekly journal, the Liberator, this was a show of determination, and hunger for knowledge, self-improvement and working for the good of the general population. His selflessness can be seen in his books and speeches where he talked of matters and issues that were endangering his life but did the same for the good of the people. He was willing and ready to lose his life for the liberty and freedom of the majority (Warkeoczeski 12-89).
Works Cited
Gates, Henry. Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. New York: Forgotten Books, 1999. Print.
McFeely, Williams. Frederick Douglass. New York: Norton, 1998. Print.
Warkeoczeski, Hornsby. New roles for leaders: A step-by-step guide to competitive advantage. Franklin: Hillsboro Press, 2000.