Fostering Leadership Capacity among Black Male Achievers: Findings from an Identity-Based Leadership Immersion Program

Abstract

This study investigates the extent to which leadership capacity gains differ between participants of a leader development session targeted towards Black men and (a) other Black men who participated in racially and gender-diverse sessions; and (b) a racially proportionate sample of other men in racially and gender-diverse sessions. We employed an anti-deficit achievement framework within this research. Findings suggested that Black men who attended an all-Black Male session made gains similar or greater than each comparison group, even considering elevated capacity levels prior to participating. This study addresses important implications for understanding how engaging with same-race, same-gendered peers in formal leadership programs can support Black men in continuing to develop leadership capacity.