R.E.A.L. (Racialized Experiences in Academic Life) Talk: a Curated Conversation with Four Black Fellows

• Published in: Journal of business and psychology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 7 - 23
• Main Authors: Avery, Derek R., McKay, Patrick F., Roberson, Quinetta M., Thomas, Kecia M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Black people; Business and Management; Community and Environmental Psychology; Higher education; Industrial and Organizational Psychology; Original Paper; Personality and Social Psychology; Professionals; Psychology; Racial identity; Racialization; Social Sciences; University faculty; Workplace diversity; Black Lives Matter; Racism; Race
• ISSN: 0889-3268; 1573-353X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10869-021-09783-y

This article presents a candid, curated conversation among four Black organizational scientists, who are fellows of multiple professional societies, about the experience of being Black in the academy. It aims to promote awareness of the uniqueness presented by their racial identity, the ways in which their careers parallel those of non-Black scholars, and the present and future of becoming an inclusive academy. The conversation was edited to maintain the anonymity of the colleagues, students, and institutions referenced while seeking to maintain the authenticity of their experiences. The fellows identify competence affirmation, access to scholarly development, mentoring, and sponsorship, overcoming bias, institutional and location fit, and identity affirmation as issues they have encountered on their journeys from doctoral students to senior faculty. The article concludes with the fellows’ insights on how they forged their professional paths and suggestions for how the management/OB and I-O psychology fields should move forward based upon their conversation.