Experiencing Racial Battle Fatigue at the Top: Perspectives of Black Community College Presidents

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 11:25 am
  In Roundtable Session: Layers of Leadership (Table 29)

Abstract

This qualitative study applied critical race theory to examine how six presidents of African descent respond to racial battle fatigue (RBF) in their leadership roles at predominantly White community colleges. Findings indicate participants responded to RBF by seeking off campus peer support to avoid continual focus on their psychological and physiological experiences, which aided in their ability to continue leadership roles. Emergent themes: 1) Less is More; and 2) Response Matters. Less is More is defined as purposeful delayed processing of RBF ramifications to increase leadership capacity, focus on job roles, and avert emotional imploding. Response Matters is defined as responding to racism in ways that frame themselves professionally non-threatening, and able to perform leadership roles despite enduring RBF.

Authors

• Bryan Hotchkins, Texas Tech University

• Jon McNaughtan, Texas Tech University

• Jarett T. Lujan, Texas A&M University - Kingsville