Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Amy Hakim

Abstract

Bullying in the U.S. workplace is an ongoing issue that transcends industry boundaries due to perpetrators’ ineffectiveness in viewing all coworkers as equals. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis study was to explore the lived experiences of Black/African American men who endure workplace colorism bullying. Critical race theory provided the conceptual framework, which labeled racism as an omnipresent systemic force. Semistructured interview data were collected from six Black/African American men who resided in the United States and who were bullied in the workplace within the past 20 years. Data were coded via open coding to discover themes. The primary findings were that Black/African American men were bullied in the workplace because of their skin complexion, but they maintained an attitude of professionalism and continued to strive for excellence despite how they were treated. Human resource professionals, managerial personnel, and employee assistance program coordinators may benefit from a better understanding of workplace bullying from the Black/African American male perspective leading to positive social change.

Share

 
COinS