THE BLACK CEILING

A sociological inquiry into the cultural disadvantages faced by Black professionals in elite, professional service firms.

Although racial bias is mostly muted in highly competitive and prestigious law firms, consulting companies, and investment banks, according to Woodson, a sociologist and professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, Black professional employees still contend with “subtle social dynamics,” that generate racial discomfort and diminish their career prospects. Drawing on life-history interviews, the author documents the workplace disadvantages that stem from the discrepancy between a firm’s dominant white culture and prior life and educational experiences that likely featured minimal engagement with that culture. In these firms, social relationships are key to positive yearly evaluations, promotions, collegial support, rewarding assignments, and partnerships. “Careers are determined by the discretionary actions and subjective assessment of their predominately White colleagues,” writes Woodson. In addition to instances of overt racial discrimination, many Black professionals suffer from “feelings of alienation, frustration, and isolation.” Two types of racial discomfort ensue: social alienation related to personal background and cultural repertoire, and stigma anxiety generated by perceptions of the risk of unfair treatment. In response, many Black professionals engage in “racial risk management,” which often further weakens relationships with colleagues. Although Woodson concentrates on race, he acknowledges its intersection with gender and class. “For Black women…gender-related cultural difficulties can be just as challenging as racial ones,” he notes. As for remedial action, firms must be more supportive, Black professionals must engage in acts of “strategic acclimation and acculturation,” and white colleagues should “reduce so­cial alienation by using more inclusive interactional habits, for example by engaging in more open-ended discussions that draw out the interests and experiences of colleagues.” In this well-researched book, Woodson identifies a significant and widespread consequence of the country’s racial divide.

Mandatory reading for both junior professionals and senior management alike.