Guilty by association : a phenomenological exploration of Black professionals' experiences with assumptions of criminality at work
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The stigma of Black criminality has persisted throughout time and been weaponized to the detriment of Black people. Previous on Black criminality have delineated it roots and discussed its outcomes. However, little is known about the shared lived experiences Black people have with Black criminality stigma. In this paper, I argue that Black professionals experiences assumptions of Black criminality within the workplace. I argue that due to the discursive nature of organizations that Black professionals are faced with D(d)iscouses and stigma of Black criminality. Additionally, I argue that Black professionals are forced to manage Black criminality stigma in the workplace. I employed the use of hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the phenomenon of Black professionals experiences with assumption of Black criminality. This dissertation study uses 20 semi-structured interviews with Black professionals to uncover the essence of this phenomenon. A thematic analysis uncovered three emergent themes that constitute the phenomenon: gangster in a suit, guilty till proven innocent, and rooted in criminality. I used stigma management communication, cultural contracts theory, and Big D /little d discourse as guiding research theories. Practical implications, theory contributions, findings, and relevant literature are shared within the study writeup.
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Ph. D.