A Balancing Act: Leading with Poise and Understanding

A leader not often mentioned in the fields of medicine, military, politics, education, business and sports that should be is Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr.  The son of a respected pioneer in the field of public health, Dr. Brown is the essence of leadership according to the great military general, strategist and philospher Sun Tzu.  Sun Tzu described leadership as a matter of intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage, and discipline (Sun Tzu, Art of War).  Sun Tzu went a little further in expressing that when an individual has all five virtues together, each appropriate to its function, then one can be a leader.  Dr. Brown is, and for close to seven decades has been, an individual who has intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage and discipline. 

As the Director for the Center for Urban Education Policy at the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), it could easily be proclaimed that as a distinguished scholar, author of well over 50 scholarly articles, and professor that Dr. Brown is intelligent.  However, his intelligence has been on display since the 1930's, over 80 years, when he was one of a few blacks to attend and graduate from Springfield College in Massachusetts and later go on to receive masters and doctorate degrees from New York University (NYU).

He combined his intelligence with courage and discipline in service to his country during World War II.  At a time in American history when blacks were seen as unequal to their white counterparts, Dr. Brown and several others broke down stereotypes and institutional barriers when they completed flight training and flew combat missions overseas during the height of World War II.  This group became known as the Tuskegee Airmen and forever changed the role that blacks would play not only in the military but in all of society as capable, intelligent, courageous and disciplined leaders.

Along the journey from his childhood days in Washington, D.C. to his service in the military and on to his long career in education and research, Dr. Brown found time to mentor and guide others.  He was patient and trustworthy.  Behind the scenes he advised leaders in all fields of endeavor to include Dr. Leroy Walker, the first black president of the U.S. Olympic Committee.  His guidance, wisdom, example and trustworthiness enabled Walker and others to walk down paths that would open up doors to millions of individuals to enjoy pursuits and opportunities in sports, medicine, education and service that otherwise may have never been available.

Dr. Brown, into his nineties, exemplifies everything human in spite of his extraordinary gifts.  He remains grounded and connected to the spirit of the people.  Educating and serving have remained a part of his being and his mantra should be acknowledged by all who wish to attain the status of leader:  to educate and serve.  To find a balance amid a world of change and instability is a tough act.  The example of Dr. Brown serves to educate those on leading with poise and understanding through any situation and time.