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Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age
As the world becomes flatter and globalization creates a world village, it is imperative that leaders have the cultural flexibility and adaptability to inspire and guide people from very distinct backgrounds that represents the whole rainbow of humanity. Salsa, Soul and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Nation puts forth a multicultural leadership model that integrates eight practices from African American, Indian and Latino communities. Using principles such as ?Sankofa ? the ability to learn from the past?, ?I to We ? From Individualism to collective identity?, and ?Mi casa es su casa ?Developing a generosity of spirit?, this model offers leaders new approaches that will increase their interpersonal effectiveness with diverse populations by incorporating the influences, practices and values of a variety of cultures in a respectful and productive manner.
248 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 15, 2012
In what this book promises, "Leadership for a Multicultural Age", it is an abysmal failure. This failure is rooted in Juana's insistence of having to degrade or devalue one culture in order to elevate others. An example of this is her attack on the "Protestant work ethic", somehow inferring that it is an awful thing. Later in the book while talking about a positive aspect of African-American culture that originates from the Protestant tradition, she seems unable to attribute positive aspects to it and instead refers to it as "Religious traditions". You can not lead in a multicultural age by attacking any culture. You must choose to either highlight the positives of all cultures or to be honest in evaluating all cultures. She does try to defend this selective views of culture early in the book by stating that the cultures of Hispanic, American Indian and African-Americans have been long been oppressed, so this apparently is reason enough.
She further seems to believe that there is one monolithic 'white' culture. Either ignoring or ignorant to the fact that this is a poor assumption. The culture of the English is vastly different to that of the Russians as it is to the dominant American culture. This failure is even more keenly seen in ignoring the cultures of Asia and India altogether. It is naive to think that you can write a book that is truly preparing leaders for the multicultural age by focusing on three select cultures and pulling lessons out of idealistic views of those cultures.
Another failure is the thinly veiled left leaning comments concerning social and political views. It would be best served as a writer to check herself on these and be true to the content at hand.
Finally, I find the 'approaches' in the book to not be 'new' nor unique to the cultures presented as the subtitle suggests. This in the end is actually a positive for the book.
With all of this said, I decided on a 3 star rating for this book because there is valuable insight into the cultures presented. The best chapter is the last. If the book was more like the last than the rest of the book, it would come much closer to fulfilling it's purpose.
In the end, it is a worthwhile read but certainly not a great work on multicultural leadership and in fact, if someone truly embraces this book as the way towards effective multicultural leadership then it will actually do more harm than good. If the reader gleams from this book insight rather than a roadmap, then they are well served.
She further seems to believe that there is one monolithic 'white' culture. Either ignoring or ignorant to the fact that this is a poor assumption. The culture of the English is vastly different to that of the Russians as it is to the dominant American culture. This failure is even more keenly seen in ignoring the cultures of Asia and India altogether. It is naive to think that you can write a book that is truly preparing leaders for the multicultural age by focusing on three select cultures and pulling lessons out of idealistic views of those cultures.
Another failure is the thinly veiled left leaning comments concerning social and political views. It would be best served as a writer to check herself on these and be true to the content at hand.
Finally, I find the 'approaches' in the book to not be 'new' nor unique to the cultures presented as the subtitle suggests. This in the end is actually a positive for the book.
With all of this said, I decided on a 3 star rating for this book because there is valuable insight into the cultures presented. The best chapter is the last. If the book was more like the last than the rest of the book, it would come much closer to fulfilling it's purpose.
In the end, it is a worthwhile read but certainly not a great work on multicultural leadership and in fact, if someone truly embraces this book as the way towards effective multicultural leadership then it will actually do more harm than good. If the reader gleams from this book insight rather than a roadmap, then they are well served.
November 25, 2019
I appreciated the author's insights and perspectives into leadership, a male and anglo/white dominated group, particularly in terms of books available. The book starts with a very enlightening cultural history of colonization and what has led to our modern white supremacy, which is infused in government and corporate leadership structures. She then contrasts much of the individualism found in this American culture with the collectivist wisdom of three cultures she has intimate experience with in her life (Latinx, American Indian, and Black). I see many comments here about an overly simplistic or stereotypical view of these cultures, a well as of white culture. I understand that making broad sweeping assumptions about "Latinos do X" is overly simplistic; however, I think the spirit of this book is how to understand and actionize some principles that guide these other cultures in their collectivism. It would be cumbersome and nearly impossible to break that down into subgroups for a book of overarching collective leadership principles (e.g. nicaraguan-american vs indigenous brazilian or afro-caribbean). I appreciate that she highlights some of the tenants of these very diverse and dynamic cultures, though I agree the reader must remember that these are generalizations of cultural values and cannot be blanket applied to individuals from those cultures.
I appreciate her contrast not just to white american culture, but to the culture that white supremacy has created in our workplaces - which does not often leave room for difference unless it is assimilated, and which often shames and excludes non-white-american people and cultures from its governance. I specifically appreciated her call away from traditional euro/anglo derived hierarchical pluralism to egalitarian pluralism (last chapter).
And lastly, I have deep gratitude and appreciation for her background and call to action of leadership's responsibility for civil rights and social justice movements, particularly since leaders from communities of color have often needed to do this in the fight for equality in the US. A leader's job is to improve the lives of their community or organization, not to tell them what to do because they know the most or have a specific job title.
I wish more organizations would internalize these principles as part of their leadership structure.
I appreciate her contrast not just to white american culture, but to the culture that white supremacy has created in our workplaces - which does not often leave room for difference unless it is assimilated, and which often shames and excludes non-white-american people and cultures from its governance. I specifically appreciated her call away from traditional euro/anglo derived hierarchical pluralism to egalitarian pluralism (last chapter).
And lastly, I have deep gratitude and appreciation for her background and call to action of leadership's responsibility for civil rights and social justice movements, particularly since leaders from communities of color have often needed to do this in the fight for equality in the US. A leader's job is to improve the lives of their community or organization, not to tell them what to do because they know the most or have a specific job title.
I wish more organizations would internalize these principles as part of their leadership structure.
October 16, 2017
This is a refreshing new look at leadership principles through a cultural lens.
Most books of the genre focus on the white male-dominated style of a single heroic individual taking charge. Bordas outlines the cultural characteristics of Latino, Black, and American Indian people and explains through examples how these characteristics contribute to a very different leadership style--one that focuses on community/collective support, generosity, and making the world a better place for future generations. Bordas actually lists nine principles, but I think they can largely be summed up by these three.
As a woman, I respect many of these principles myself, and I appreciate the cultural insight this book provides. I hope that others can read and gain a similar appreciation for this unique style of leadership. Too often, I'm afraid it is seen as weak; yet embracing it could make us so much stronger.
Most books of the genre focus on the white male-dominated style of a single heroic individual taking charge. Bordas outlines the cultural characteristics of Latino, Black, and American Indian people and explains through examples how these characteristics contribute to a very different leadership style--one that focuses on community/collective support, generosity, and making the world a better place for future generations. Bordas actually lists nine principles, but I think they can largely be summed up by these three.
As a woman, I respect many of these principles myself, and I appreciate the cultural insight this book provides. I hope that others can read and gain a similar appreciation for this unique style of leadership. Too often, I'm afraid it is seen as weak; yet embracing it could make us so much stronger.
April 23, 2015
This book is very broad strokes and big ideas. It is also very idealistic. It's a road map of how to lead our country into a new and more egalitarian era but it also fails to truly describe and acknowledge all the barriers that such a path would take. Still worth a read but take it with a grain of salt. The author tries her best to stay upbeat and positive even when talking about some of the horrors of our country's past.
I think my biggest issue with the book is that it presumes to talk about and for entire cultures. I know that this is just to get points across and that to examine three separate cultures in the span of 200 pages is going to result in very little detail. Still it was irritating and confusing to see someone describe traits and assign them to all African Americans or all Native Americans or all Latinos or even all white people. The book also sort of assumes that all white people exist in the same middle class limbo. It completely ignores the separate culture of working class white people which is in fact more in alignment with many of the other cultures' values that she holds up as ideal.
It is also not exactly the whole picture of multicultural leadership, since the author left out Asian Americans altogether.
I suppose it's a good introductory book to the subject as long as you think critically about it and don't take everything you read to heart.
I think my biggest issue with the book is that it presumes to talk about and for entire cultures. I know that this is just to get points across and that to examine three separate cultures in the span of 200 pages is going to result in very little detail. Still it was irritating and confusing to see someone describe traits and assign them to all African Americans or all Native Americans or all Latinos or even all white people. The book also sort of assumes that all white people exist in the same middle class limbo. It completely ignores the separate culture of working class white people which is in fact more in alignment with many of the other cultures' values that she holds up as ideal.
It is also not exactly the whole picture of multicultural leadership, since the author left out Asian Americans altogether.
I suppose it's a good introductory book to the subject as long as you think critically about it and don't take everything you read to heart.
February 22, 2023
A very important read for anyone working in any type of leadership, this is the multicultural counterpoint to all the leadership development works that are firmly centered in the dominant culture and continue to uphold systemic oppression.
My only quibble with the book is just that it gets repetitive, although I'm very glad I kept pushing through all the way to the end because the chapter on the spirituality (with a bit of theology thrown in) of leadership was particularly useful for my leadership setting.
My only quibble with the book is just that it gets repetitive, although I'm very glad I kept pushing through all the way to the end because the chapter on the spirituality (with a bit of theology thrown in) of leadership was particularly useful for my leadership setting.
June 25, 2019
Stuck in the dominate culture model of hierarchical leadership? Juana Bordas is here for you! Such a generative and sustaining resource for collaborative multicultural leadership. Deep gratitude to Aisha Hauser for sending me to this book!
March 28, 2017
90% of the phrases written in Spanish have grammar mistakes or wrong wording, what a shame.
March 15, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, which happened to be a textbook for a class on Social Responsibility and Leadership. Personal narratives are swept throughout to help bring points out of the abstract and into real time. Really useful in helping dismantle the insidious white supremacy ways that are integrated into your body without even knowing it. There’s one chapter in particular that stirred a lot up for me (from I to We cultures) and I can’t stop witnessing how it plays out in my life. Recommend this read.
July 12, 2017
Someone commented on this book saying it was all broad strokes and big ideas. That gets it just right. This is an attractive and easily read book on approaches to leadership in the Latino, Black, and Native American communities. It's an easy read filled with platitudes from the various cultures but the book does make its point that leadership in the so-called multicultural age has much to gain from the leadership wisdom of these communities.
May 20, 2020
I like the multicultural approach to leadership but I think some of the characteristics are not unique to the described culture. I could be better convinced if there were case studies or comparative research data that highlighted a community's unique use or application of that particular leadership skill.
March 28, 2024
A wonderful book. I would love to see an addition - so much has occurred since this book was published, President Obama was elected, plus the rise of the racism and hatered of Donald Trump entering the public discourse. It would be nice to have a section on what we do moving forward, how can we save ourselves when it feels like we took two steps forward and three steps back?
February 1, 2017
I found this book to be appropriative, exclusive, rooted in colorism, and naive regarding the interplay of leadership with in certain POC communities.
July 24, 2018
Lots of good ideas but a bit outdated and repetitive.
June 25, 2020
Read for school, solid book
October 19, 2020
This book is a fantastic introduction to considering the increasing diversity that should be sought after in administrative positions. I chose to read this book from a list provided in a graduate class, and I think it may be one of the more impactful books I have read in my program.
The institutions and organizations we are a part of in the United States are formed off of systemic foundations, and as such hold the same westernized values that many institutions of white power do, and this book asks us to consider what our institutions would look like if more leaders adopted nine culturally instilled leadership skills from our Latinx, Native American (or American Indian, apologies if I used the incorrect term), and African American populations (though the last one has a few that include specifically West African cultural practices).
I will say the one drawback of this book is that it is hard to apply in other situations, and does not consider how to integrate these leadership ideas into white spaces. As a white woman myself, I can recognize how unwelcoming these spaces are to changing, and as ideology is a foundation that is hard to wear down, I would have appreciated the author's help in considering how to make a departmental/team/institutional change.
I do think one person's actions can influence many, but I also know that some of the skills mentioned in the book are perceived in a way that while good, might be more likely to be attributed to that person's "unique quality of character" as opposed to an institutional model, because people would rather pass it off saying "I wish there were more leaders like you" than considering challenging themselves to become those leaders, but perhaps that's my inner cynic coming out.
Overall, this is a phenomenal read, and I highly recommend it to anyone, especially those in positions of leadership and influence.
The institutions and organizations we are a part of in the United States are formed off of systemic foundations, and as such hold the same westernized values that many institutions of white power do, and this book asks us to consider what our institutions would look like if more leaders adopted nine culturally instilled leadership skills from our Latinx, Native American (or American Indian, apologies if I used the incorrect term), and African American populations (though the last one has a few that include specifically West African cultural practices).
I will say the one drawback of this book is that it is hard to apply in other situations, and does not consider how to integrate these leadership ideas into white spaces. As a white woman myself, I can recognize how unwelcoming these spaces are to changing, and as ideology is a foundation that is hard to wear down, I would have appreciated the author's help in considering how to make a departmental/team/institutional change.
I do think one person's actions can influence many, but I also know that some of the skills mentioned in the book are perceived in a way that while good, might be more likely to be attributed to that person's "unique quality of character" as opposed to an institutional model, because people would rather pass it off saying "I wish there were more leaders like you" than considering challenging themselves to become those leaders, but perhaps that's my inner cynic coming out.
Overall, this is a phenomenal read, and I highly recommend it to anyone, especially those in positions of leadership and influence.
August 24, 2014
Ms. Bordas weaves each principal with the same call to “Infuse Salsa Soul and Spirit into American Leadership.” (Bordas, 1997, p. 9) She continuously explores and reveals the relationships, interactions and community building that Latino, Black and American Indian Leaders has with people. She shows with the combination of activism, spirituality and commitment; how leaders within the community speak for those who may not be heard, take action for those who are unable to act and help mobilize folks around issues when folks are not sure if they need to rally. Ms. Bordas’s response is to call each leader from the Salsa, Soul, and American Indian Communities to engage in an ongoing dialogue, an ongoing commitment, an ongoing plan to move forward for the future of the many to come. Ms. Bordas book will serve as a roadmap to those who are unsure where to begin seeking information on how to acquire leadership in a multicultural age. Salsa, Soul, and Spirit will be a reaffirmation for those who began the search and have lost their way. Salsa, Soul, and Spirit is a wonderful engaging path of principals that are easy to follow if you are ready to embrace your seriti, “…reflection of one’s moral substance, influence, personal goodness, power, and humanity.” (Bordas, 2007, p.175).
May 8, 2008
I thought I knew what "diversity" meant before reading this book but my definition is so much richer now that I've read Bordas' words. This book gives a great account of the strong leadership in the Black, Hispanic and American Indian cultures. Bordas explains the lessons of people of color, and how they have a strong sense of community ("we" vs. "I") and feel a civic duty. These communities have historically been oppressed, which has required them to stay together, help each other, and work together to make their communities stronger...just to survive. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to be a leader (which should be everyone!) because it really adds a depth to your understanding of servant leadership.
September 2, 2008
This book is for anyone interested in leadership and learning about it from a collective approach. Gives lots of insight to white American culture, and explains Latino, Native American, and African American leadership methods derived from their cultures. Sometimes it was hard for me to distinguish one key point Bordas was making from another key point, but I loved her passion and enthusiasm for mixing our cultures and acknowledging, accepting, and using the best ideas and leadership approaches to make a better world.
June 30, 2010
This is a great book, a great resource for my Student Leadership & Development program. It offers a great view of multicultural leadership development from various perspectives that include the Latino, African American, and Native American communities. I also love the various exercises that are offered at the end of each section. If you are looking for a resource that will help get you started on creating positive, interactive workshops and discussions with college students, then this is a book for you.
August 11, 2018
Reading this book about Native American leadership, Hispanic leadership and Black leadership styles is eye-opening. Leading can be a temporary thing as part of one's community. Respect and co-operation among many was admirable. How can we copy that style and collaborate.
And to think the author lives here in Colorado. I need to watch for her speaking locations when I need a boost.
She too was a Peace Corps volunteer!
And to think the author lives here in Colorado. I need to watch for her speaking locations when I need a boost.
She too was a Peace Corps volunteer!
Read
July 21, 2019I started this at work many months ago, found myself incredibly busy, had to put this back on the shelf, and picked it up recently for a proposed school presentation on leadership. This is a timely book, one full of new perspectives that many of my adult students will benefit in learning. By no means do I believe this is a single answer, but it provides many prompts and approaches for beginning true discussions and potential personal change.
March 15, 2014
This was a great book. I've been struggling to find leadership materials that don't follow a traditional, euro-centric, patriarchal concept of leadership. This book really highlights a great many aspects of leadership from a less "me" orientation and more communal perspective from a variety of other cultures and histories. I'd highly recommend it.
April 16, 2016
I really like the approach and style of this book and am looking forward to referring to it again. I like how it used the three themes of "salsa, soul, and spirit" to represent the different cultures used in the text. I also connected with the idea of how important communities, values, and compromise are for leaders to understand in their work.
I recommend this book.
V
I recommend this book.
V
January 25, 2011
This was a very intersting book looking at Latino and African American cultures and what makes them special and different. It also talks about leadership keys to working with different groups and ways to understand their needs. I highly recommend it to someone working in a multicultural field.
September 3, 2012
I went to the author's presentation at Salt Lake Community College last week--August 29,2012--and was so impressed. I could hardly wait to read her book which I bought that day. This book is definitely one we will want to use at Esperanza.
November 20, 2021
Dr. Juana Bordas tells how culture influences the building and inclusive practices of all members of society. If one wants a community based on multiculturalism, leadership should reflect people of diverse background.
July 21, 2008
This book gives a good background about multicultural leadership. It would be useful in a classroom as it has activities at the end of each chapter.
July 5, 2013
I really, really liked this book. I should probably read it again soon.
November 5, 2013
I liked the message and content of this book but felt it was repetitive.
December 18, 2014
This was a required book for a class. I found it somewhat hard to read. While there was good information, I found a lot of it was just too simplistic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews