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

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Derek R. Avery

  2. Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Patrick F. McKay

  3. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Quinetta M. Roberson

  4. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Kecia M. Thomas

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  1. Derek R. Avery
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  2. Patrick F. McKay
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  3. Quinetta M. Roberson
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  4. Kecia M. Thomas
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Correspondence to Derek R. Avery.

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Avery, D.R., McKay, P.F., Roberson, Q.M. et al. R.E.A.L. (Racialized Experiences in Academic Life) Talk: a Curated Conversation with Four Black Fellows. J Bus Psychol 38, 7–23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-021-09783-y

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