The demographic changes of the 21 st century promise a very different arena for the practice of leadership in our country. People from ethnic, religious and cultural groups are clamoring for respect of their cultural values while seeking full participation in decision-making processes. The industrial model of leadership fails to fulfill the needs of this growing diversity of voices. This article takes a closer look at Dr. Joe Rost's definition of leadership as "an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes that reflect their mutual purposes" and its application to communities of color. The elements of Rost's definition foster pluralism which occurs when minority group members participate fully in the dominant society, yet maintain their cultural differences. In other words, Rost's definition is promoting leadership for an increasingly diverse 21st century.
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