The Leadership Challenge of Overcoming the Scourge of Racism: The Coping and Mitigative Strategies Used by Leaders

Race is not a leadership challenge in culturally monolithic societies. In the United States, Caucasian leaders do not have to deal with the challenge as much as their African American counterparts. Society seems to accept their role as leaders more readily than they accept Black, Hispanic, Asian or other minority leaders. Leaders from these groups have to deal with an added challenge of coping with racism. This paper focuses on this challenge of racism, especially among African American Leaders, and examines how successful African American leaders cope or mitigate this challenge, while seeking to be effective in their leadership roles. Depersonalization of self and migrating to a group conceptualization is a common strategy that African American and minority leaders use effectively, but it can be tiring in the long run, especially if the leader wants to be at peace with his or her conscience.