It seems like we constantly hear the term “Black leaders” bandied about. This implies that there are people who are leaders (or guides) for African Americans. Other groups don’t have leaders attached to them or their causes in this fashion. There are no designated “Hispanic leaders” or “LGBT leaders,” or “women’s leaders,” so why must there be “Black leaders?” The use of the word “leader,” as in business leader or party leader, means that they have risen higher in the ranks of their group–they have the greatest influence over the group. Is this implying that Blacks are being led, need to be led, or that some Blacks are greater than others?

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