I will look into the life of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. Following the excellent leadership theory, a great leader emerges magically and leads people towards success. Abraham Lincoln is known for consistently finding new ways to reach common ground with his opposes. During his presidency, some leaders on his team play the blame game when things go wrong; Lincoln would eventually take personal responsibility for the mistakes. Lincoln uses 75% of his day meeting people outside the White House, through personal interactions, Lincoln gets the best information which he consequently uses in making the right decisions. I agree that Lincoln is a great leader because of these exemplary traits.
Social identity is a sense of belonging. It is how people identify themselves with others according to what they have in common. Lincolns identifies with the Republican Party (Ranadive). He becomes the first member of the Republican Party to be elected as president of the United States. By Lincoln identifying with similar party goals as his, he effectively gets an advantage over his competitors from the party’s support.
The prestige theory bases prestige on esteem, honor achievements, reputation, and charisma. Abraham Lincoln is known for his poor sense of style, his uncontrollable laughing habits. However, people remember his unshakable moral courage, iron will, knowledge, and success. I think that these traits largely contribute to assisting Lincoln to ascend to the presidential rank.
Social dominance theory refers to situations in which a group or an individual dictates or controls others’ behaviors. Lincoln is at the center of dramatic societal transformations that shape the present and future of the United States. Lincoln uses intimidation by overturning an order issued by General David Hunter; it is through this move that over four million slaves regain their freedom. I think that Dominance is a useful trait that ends up garnering notes for Lincoln from slaves and the people who are against slavery.
I will analyze on race, ethnicity, and the criminal justice system in the unite states. Over the last century, punishment and crime continue to create powerful symbols of the racial divide. Racial minorities are tried in white courtrooms by all-white jurists. In 1910, blacks constituted 11% of the United States population. Besides, they created 31% of the prison population and accounted for 405 of the 455 executions. Harshest judgments fall blacks who victimize whites. The police encourage stereotyping of blacks by using violence towards black people. (Rosich). In 2003, African Americans were 12.7 % of the population. During this period, arrests happen to African Americans for 37% of violent crimes. However, the capture of white is a result of property crime and burglaries. Moreover, blacks were six times more likely to be murdered than whites in 2002.
These racial disparities have resulted from the reality of unfairness in the judicial system. Ethnic and racial inequality persists in criminal justice and crime in the United States. There is overrepresentation in offending, misconduct, and victimization of black people. It occurs at all stages of the criminal justice process from arrest, preliminary detention, sentencing, and restriction.
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/courts/reports/2019/10/03/475359/building-inclusive-federal-judiciary/
Sponsoring and encouraging more African Americans into taking up roles into the judicial process is crucial in addressing this challenge. Equality in both black and white judges on the bench is vital. Listening to the crimes committed by African Americans and other minorities will reduce black’s overrepresentation in violent crime.
This attempt is likely to work since whites have started appreciating the minorities in the United States. Furthermore, blacks have shown significant progress by taking up leadership ranks, which have increased the confidence of the white in blacks.
Works Cited
Ranadive, Ameet. https://medium.com/@ameet/four-leadership-lessons-from-abraham-lincoln-83867391bfe0. 13 February 2019.
Rosich, K. Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System. New York: American Sociological Association, 2007.