Black Male Supervisors Navigating Racial Battle Fatigue: A Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

AbstractA significantly relevant issue that affects Black men in the workplace is a condition known as racial battle fatigue (RBF). RBF fosters systemic and systematic occupational and economic disparities that are experienced by Black men more regularly than their White counterparts (Smith et al., 2007). This qualitative study utilized a constructivist grounded theory methodology based on interviews with 11 Black male supervisors to understand the meaning of their cognitive and behavioral experiences as they navigated microaggressions, microinequities, and vicarious racism. These experiences contribute to our understanding of RBF. The findings revealed that Black male supervisors in various industries encountered and experienced RBF in the workplace. In addition, this research revealed that participants were subjected to various subtle and overt forms of racial stress due to microlevel and macrolevel RBF. The participants’ stories identified epistemic employment injustice and white fear as obstacles and barriers that Black men in supervisory roles face because of RBF in the workplace. The study also indicated that participants deployed managing and coping strategies to address the emotional contagions and emotional trauma resulting from their experiences. This research has implications for workplace policy change initiatives, cultural training and education, intergroup dialog courses, and clinical health practitioners. Recommendations pertaining to interventions that address trauma, mental health, and maladaptive behaviors are provided.