In addition to wanting to share what I have observed and learned about leadership, I was motivated to write this book because of what I have seen the President, Barack Obama, endure as a black man leading our country. The visceral, racist and bigoted reactions to his very presence shook me back into the reality of being black in America.
Despite being elected and re-elected with comfortable margins by a majority of the American people, President Obama has had his citizenship, intellect and leadership consistently challenged and doubted. His distinguished Harvard pedigree and faculty status at the prestigious University of Chicago doesn’t seem to matter. His remarkable political career in Illinois doesn’t seem to matter. His charisma and ability to connect with people doesn’t seem to matter. To many, all that seems to matter is his color. A black man in the White House seemed to be too much for some to comprehend and accept. These people have set out to derail, frustrate, undermine and distort each and every Obama leadership initiative—regardless of merit.
While the these antics to undermine Barack Obama’s leadership were being played out on a global stage, I thought about some of the challenges I and other black people in leadership positions have faced not because of our competence—but ,rather, because of our color. I reflected back on some of the more blatant as well as those more subtle challenges that I’ve have observed, been shared with me and personally experienced. This book was born out of need to acknowledge what every black leader knows and to share some steps that might be helpful to both new and veteran leaders.
So, the purpose of this book is ‘air out’ some of those pernicious perceptions and beliefs that operate to make the position of leadership for Blacks unnecessarily challenging and, often, untenable. My objective was to share some strategies with Black managers who are promoted to or occupy a position that requires them to engage employees who, often, question their suitability for the role of being ‘their’ boss.
