So, I'm not going to lie...I've been to the club before and noticed the line that gets you in faster than the "minions" standing in the regular people line. And, all people want to be in that line because you get better service, and it seems like you are getting somewhere faster than the Mr. and Miss Average (Ku)Joe. Some people with a lack of importance pay their way to get into these lines. Others are entourage for the real star(s). And yet, other folk fake it until they get exposed or slip in.
I'm beginning to think that the same is true of black leadership. Everywhere I look, somebody is trying to be president, senator, representative, pastor or chair of something. That's cool, but could you do something meaningful with the space and time you occupy. What I know about leadership and what I know about this historical moment is that we are living in a very critical and complicated time. Thus, our leaders must be more than empty suits with the right credentials, lacking substantive thought.
My honest impression is that most of the leaders I've been witnessing in close proximity want power and prominence for no other reason than to say that they have made it. But I am reminded of Alexs Pate's thoughtful remark in regards to black success: "what are you 'making it' to?" What is the purpose of position if you have no full understanding of how to use it fully to create change for those who have elected (or acquiesced) to follow your leadership? Why be in charge if you have nothing of importance to offer?
Worse yet, are those people who look the part but have real skill deficits. And, people who lead with skill deficits, ultimately have to be managed from the bottom up. Trust me it is a tiring thing to manage the manager/pastor/boss/president. It's actually annoying as hell! Further, no one benefits from people who can't do the job!
So I started with the club, but let me move to the church for just a second. God understood that Saul...looked the part, but was ultimately a disappointment...and could not lead God's people. Thus, enter David. Samuel on behalf of God had to SEARCH for David. In fact, David wasn't even present at the initial meeting when God sent Samuel to find a new king...but David was found! Paradoxically, I think we might be Saul selectors, needing Davids. We choose people to lead us who externally fit the bill, but whom competency has never met. It would behoove us to reflect thoughtfully before putting another "no-account negro or negress" in charge of our organizations, churches, groups, businesses, etc.
Plus, most of them don't want to lead! They want the status that leading brings them. They want VIP status without having any important agenda items, no important goals/visions, no important speeches, no important skill set...just no important anything. I am convinced that we are a people being led by celebrities that lack relevance.
The challenge for us as a community is to begin to discern whether we have let people slip into the VIP line...and so we are dealing with fakes. Maybe we are listening to the entourage...thus taking direction from groupies. Or, we might be listening to people who have paid their way into the VIP line...thus, allowing money to set the agenda, rather than merit/preparation/capability. In any case, we all need to know that fakers, groupies, and opportunists aren't the real thing...no matter how much they masquerade in VIP space.
When you and I are able to recognize these folk from the real stars, we might actually find out that the real folk are standing in the line with us because real leaders (who follow Jesus' model) don't need to be in the VIP line to be important. The work that they do speaks for itself!
Could the real leaders please take your place!
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