Black Excellence: the first, the few, the only

Black Excellence

Black Excellence is knowing that although you may be among the first, the few, or the only people to share your experiences, your impact will create opportunity that uplifts our entire community.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , in the United States...

• 8.4% of physicians are Black
• 5.9% of chief executives are Black

According to the American Bar Association , in the United States...

• 5% of lawyers are Black

According to the US Department of Education , in the United States...

• 4% of full professors are Black

And, in 2022, just six Fortune 500 companies were led by a Black CEO making it just over 1% of chief executives leading the world's most powerful companies and brands.

The Problem

This likely isn't the first time you're being presented with these statistics; but, if it is, you likely aren't surprised. The predominate narratives in our society do not position Black folks as leaders or professionals in high-impact careers like the ones listed above.

There are countless individual and systemic barriers ingrained in the very fabric of our society that excludes Black folks from the highest levels of leadership and education.

For one, master's and doctoral programs require a college degree and in 2018, only 37% of Black folks were enrolled in an undergraduate academic institution (US Department of Education ).

Also, while advanced degrees tend to expand an individual's earning power, they also tend to require a significant financial investment. In 2019, the median wealth of Black households in the United States was $24,100 (Center for American Progress ).

Lastly, the issue of white folks being overrepresented in many high-impact positions of leadership continues to perpetuate a dangerous narrative of entitlement and privilege. The underrepresentation of Black folks and folks of color in these same roles creates a barrier for high-wage/high-impact career aspirations in young people who are racially minoritized.

"But still, like air, I’ll rise."

“Still I Rise” (1976) is one of Maya Angelou's most quoted poems and an apt phrase to underscore the resiliency required of Black Excellence. Being the first, one the few, or the only of anything is an incredible honor; however, it can also be lonely and deeply traumatic.

Just last year, Maya Angelou became the first Black woman to be featured on a US coin; a magnificent honor in which she never got to bask.

Before sharing my experiences as an only, I'm eager to uplift pioneers in the Black community who will forever exist as pillars of Black Excellence in American history:

• W. E. B. Du Bois, first Black Ph.D. graduate from Harvard University (1895)
• Jackie Roosevelt Robinson, first Black player in Major League Baseball (1947)
• Althea Gibson, first Black tennis player to win a Grand Slam tournament (1956)
• Toni Morrison, first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1993)
• President Barack Obama, first Black President of the United States (2008)

I stand in celebration of these folks who, through their determination and perseverance, have contributed to a more diverse world that I get to exist in. However, I am frustrated that firsts are still happening every single day in my community.

In 2022, I worked on a 65-person staff of college administrators and was the only Black man among my colleagues. To say that I often felt lonely would be a complete understatement. I longed for affinity that simply didn't exist.

The field of higher education has an incredible amount of work to do in the diversification of faculty and administrators. An equal or greater amount of work is warranted around the retention of college staff members who contribute to the racial and ethnic diversity of a campus' body.

Existing as an only is taxing and can contribute to feelings of isolation and emotional burnout. I am now on a healing journey that involves reconnecting with professionals of color who can understand my racialized experiences in the world of work.

What's Next?

There is room for everyone to join the movement towards social justice and I implore folks who have read this article to find your next steps. Here are a few:

1. Next read: "A Guide to Existing as and/or Supporting Queer Black Students"
2. Next read: "11 students explain what being queer, black, and proud means to them"

If there are additional resources you'd like to see on this list, DM me! ???

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JAKE Small (www.imjakesmall.com ) is a Higher Education Professional and Workplace Equity Consultant. He focuses on operationalizing social justice, building equity initiatives, and increasing underrepresented students' access to the highest levels of education -- master's and doctoral degrees. His most recent peer-reviewed publication is titled "Reimagining an Antiracist Career Center'' (Small, 2021) which he uses to problematize the traditional practices of college career education. Request services on his LinkedIn page?HERE .