African-American Males and Psychological Safety in Workplaces and Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Abstract

Psychological safety is crucial for positive community and workplace cultures, especially for workers of diverse communities, including African Americans, in periods of crisis. This qualitative study examined Black men's lived experiences with psychological safety in their communities and workplaces relative to the recent environment of biological and social pandemics. The study confirmed some collective phenomena, particularly exhibiting the need for managers to understand, respect, and value that Black male employees' specific experiences are different in ways that often do not allow them to divorce themselves from their experiences with racism stereotypes and racial profiling when they enter the workplace.