Prometheus 6

He is clear as clear can be on this point. What he has stated has more merit and importance than anything I've heard in the Civil / HumanRights' arena for some time.

there's one error.  only one though. 

he makes it seem as if this tendency is "natural" or perhaps "cultural."  

it isn't.  it's the product of jim crow era politics, and the product of contemporary treatment of black needs as special interests. 

It's damn near Taoist...seriously. There's a verse in the Tao Te Ching that says when a great leader passes the people look at all he's done anf feel they did it themselves.

And finally...FINALLY...it was said out loud that power comes from acting collectively. 

Excellent point made by Gordon, something I've agreed with forever.

I think the tendency to look for a personality is universal. And I don't think it needs be given up...I don't even think it's possible to give up, us being a social species and all.

But I think it can be added to. And if Gordon can convince folks of this one, he'll go on the Permanent Prometheus Props Roll, no matter what else he says.

Still working on the NAACP proper, though... 

The comments he made speak to all organizations. What happened to Chrysler after Lee Iacocca left? Check out Built to Last.... Is it about "clock building" or "time telling"?

Has been saying that for years about black organizations who are personality -led and how those movements die with the person who led it. Clarke has always said that Black folks needed an organization that when the leader died, the organization carried on. Guess Dr. Clarke was finally right, Gordon said what should have been said years ago bout personailty- led movements.THE majority uses them to butress any dissent from an opposing voice and the led will call you an "uncle tom".

The comments he made speak to all organizations. What happened to Chrysler after Lee Iacocca left? Check out Built to Last.... Is it about "clock building" or "time telling"?

Couple of days ago I wrote something about making your plans like America was a business instead of a nation. This is part of what I meant.

There are tools and techniques specific to building organizations all around us. Studies of how networks get established, develop and grow independent of the content of the network are all over the place.

As a former corporate executive does Gordon bring expertise and experience in line with developing an organization that eschews personality driven leadership?  Who are some other leaders in the African American community throughout history who can be credited with practicing this kind of leadership philosophy?   

Guess Dr. Clarke was finally right, Gordon said what should have been said years ago bout personality- led movements. THE majority uses them to buttress any dissent from an opposing voice and the led will call you an "uncle tom".

Dr. Clarke tends to be right. But don't assume process-driven organizations won't squash dissent any more than you should assume a personality-driven one will.

To me the point is, no personality driven organization can lead a generational struggle because the personality, and hence the organization, will die before the job is done. A personality-driven organization can start shit and develop into the process-driven organization it needs to be to shepherd change through. But if you plan it that way, you'd strike me as pretty process driven individual.

Any links to the video at this point?

As a former corporate executive does Gordon bring expertise and experience in line with developing an organization that eschews personality driven leadership? 

Yes. It is, in fact part of why he was recruited. I think his familiarity with Corporate America, and its familiarity with him, being helpful in fund raising was a bigger part.

Who are some other leaders in the African American community throughout history who can be credited with practicing this kind of leadership philosophy?

This is not a leadership strategy, it's a management strategy. A kind of estate planning. 

Any links to the video at this point?

No, and it's possible there may not exist. There's two DVDs available, one per session, at like $30 per.

Looks like folks are interested in this...I may pull a characteristic couple of minutes from each participant. I think I can do that and keep things within fair use rules.