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.

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.