There are several definitions of what a leader is, but still all interpretations of this concept agree on one aspect: the basis of leadership is the psychology of a strong personality independent of others’ opinions, capable of managing any situation and making decisions quickly. A leader is a person with significant authority who can make solutions in the interests of the community. The psychology of a leader is the psychology of a winner. In the history of humanity, there are many leaders in various fields: politics, military affairs, or economics. One such example is one of the early leaders of the civil rights movement, American investigative journalist Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, who, thanks to her qualities of character, remained a significant figure in history and brought change to society.
The concept of a leader hides a whole set of particular character traits that allow remaining such a successful person. First of all, leadership is based on a moral component, since such persons take on moral responsibility for their actions and their followers’ actions. Moreover, to become a leader, a person should understand people’s needs and be able to articulate the primary needs of a group. He or she must be communicative to build communication in society and express his or her ideas effectively. Confidence or the assurance in own actions, words, and point of view is no less critical. Those who can give people reliance, even if not immediately, but in the future, people will follow. It is also essential for a leader to take risks and understand where the fine line lies between risk and recklessness. Responsibility is always associated with a certain amount of risk and liability for other people’s actions. Therefore, a leader should not only combine the listed qualities but also constantly develop them.
Ida Bell Wells was a prominent African-American journalist, civil rights activist, and women’s rights leader in the women’s electoral movement. She is also best known for her bold and effective opposition to lynching. According to Kruse et al. (2020), this woman was not afraid of public pressure, openly expressed her opinion, and took responsibility for her words. She constantly took risks, actively investigating cases of lynching black men, and wrote candidly about it in many publications. Even the attack on the office of her newspaper, as a result of which Wells was forced to leave for Chicago, did not stop the woman from speaking on forbidden topics. Moreover, during her participation in women’s suffrage parades, she refused to stand in the back because she was black, which caused a lot of media coverage. Ida said: “It is better to die fighting injustice than to die like a trapped rat” (Kruse et al., 2020, p. 24). These are the words of a genuine leader who can change social imperfections. Thus, Ida Wells’ traits such as responsibility for her actions and willingness to take risks indicate that this woman was a leader.
Wells’ ability to speak out and inspire the masses deserves special attention. Kruse et al. (2020) note that she promoted her position, which was opposed to social trends throughout the United States, and made two trips to England to draw public attention to the issue of civil equality and lynching. Her ability to communicate effectively and express her views persuasively resulted in Wells having followers worldwide and enlisting the support of many people. Furthermore, Wells organized the Negro Fellowship League, which assisted newly arrived black migrants from the south. Thus, communication skills and the ability to dialogue helped the woman become a leader.
Ida B. Wells possessed all the qualities characteristic of leaders: responsibility, the ability to clearly express her point of view, understanding of the needs of society, and confidence. Throughout her life, this woman relentlessly demanded equality and justice for African Americans. She became one of the earliest activists of the civil rights movement. Thus, Ida was one of the most influential leaders in fighting against lynching in the United States.
Work Cited
Kruse, Beth et al. “Remembering Ida, Ida Remembering: Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Black Political Culture in Reconstruction-Era Mississippi”. Southern Cultures, vol. 26, 2020, pp. 20-41.