| New York City was regarded as a powerful financial center and home to the most elite money center banks in the world. Such organizations had an incredible influence on the economy and business community nationwide. Additionally, one of the largest concentrations of the African American male population in the United States resided in the New York City area. Given the significance of both, the researcher sought to understand the experiences of African American men as executives in New York money center banks.; The investigator explored the perceptions and experiences of fourteen subjects that were able to provide some substantive insights into this important area of career and organizational research. Out of their statements emerged themes and hypotheses that pinpointed critical social transactions that were made to allow them to advance in the money center banking environment. This study's methodology employed a semi-structured interview format using techniques to generate grounded theories and hypotheses as outlined by Glaser & Strauss (1967).; The research data collected indicated that African American male executives were striving against the odds given the level of discrimination that existed in New York money center banks. Racism continued to be the strongest barrier that blacks would have to overcome to truly compete on leveled ground in the American workplace. The participants of this study found their career potential was limited and, at times, very tenuous. Their challenge was to meet the exceedingly high demands of professions in a substantially adverse environment.; This study's participants described in detail potential pitfalls, protocols, and issues that directly impacted the careers of black male executives specifically. Furthermore, this study confirmed that a need continued to exist for formal interventions that provided reinforced equal employment practices and opportunities in the corporate workplace. The researcher concluded that the personal traits that allowed the African American male to survive and achieve in the money center bank were a drive to succeed, a dependency on corporate employment, intestinal fortitude, street smart savvy, and keen intellect. |
