Out of Role? Out of Luck: The Influence of Race and Leadership Status on Performance Appraisals

Abstract

Although the American workforce is becoming more diverse, Black managers continue to face obstacles to success. One of the greatest challenges facing Black leaders is aversive racism, a subtle but insidious form of prejudice that emerges when people can justify their negative feelings towards Blacks based on factors other than race. The present study (N = 156) revealed that participants gave negative ratings to Black leaders and White subordinates and positive ratings to Black subordinates and White leaders, thus affirming these workers in their stereotypical societal positions. Furthermore, participants used even innocuous past mistakes of Black leaders to justify their negative evaluations of them. The theoretical and practical implications for leadership theories, performance appraisals, and organizational policy are discussed.