Synopses & Reviews
As an African American, you’ve heard the adage that you need to work twice as hard as white counterparts to succeed. So you play “the game” and anticipate being rewarded for your talents and hard work. Now you’re up for a prized promotion, landmark business deal, or other professional breakthrough—this is your moment….
It’s at this point that many African-American professionals experience a “black faces in white places” moment: a point at which it becomes all too clear that just playing well isn’t enough— because the rules can change on you in a heartbeat. This scenario plays out countless times each day in American workplaces, and for Randal Pinkett it played out on national television—when Pinkett’s seemingly storybook ending during the finale of The Apprentice was about to get an unexpected twist.
Black Faces in White Places is about that very game—the one played in the competitive world in which we all live and work. While exploring the ideals and realities of identity, meritocracy, opportunity, and society, the book lays out ten concrete strategies to help you become a “game changer.” The ten strategies will advance you to the next level of personal and professional success and unleash the greatness that lies within you.
Along the way, you will:
• Learn how to use your ethnicity as an asset
• Expand yourself beyond your comfort zone
• Recognize and demonstrate the four facets of excellence
• Build beneficial relationships and powerful networks
• Identify different mentors and learn from others’ experiences
• Discover ways of working with others to facilitate collective action
• And much more
The book also examines social responsibility, institution building, and longstanding traditions of giving throughout African-American culture and history.
Based on interviews with dozens of prominent African Americans and the authors’ considerable experience in business, in the public eye, and in the minority, Black Faces in White Places shows how as an African-American professional you can (and must) think and act both entrepreneurially and “intrapreneurially”; combine the strengths of your peers with the wisdom of others; and plant the seeds of a positive and lasting legacy.
Randal Pinkett, Ph.D., was the winner of season four of The Apprentice and the show’s first minority winner. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of BCT Partners, an information technology and management consulting firm.
Jeffrey Robinson, Ph.D., is a leading business scholar at Rutgers Business School.
Philana Patterson is a business news editor for the Associated Press.
Review
“…important and groundbreaking book…provides the tools necessary for African Americans and members of other minorities, to achieve success and respect on their own terms.” —BlogBusinessWorld
“…Pinkett and Rutgers Business School Professor Jeffrey Robinson present a trailblazing path for leveraging ethnic and cultural assets to not only win the game of success in any arena, but to reshape America and leave a powerful legacy for generations to come…. They show how to achieve professional and personal success while affirming and amplifying racial pride by learning, mastering, and ultimately redefining ‘the ever-changing game’ - their new metaphor for our competitive world of work and life. Building on the four dimensions of the contemporary Black experience - identity, society, meritocracy, and opportunity their book provides a strategic roadmap to keep African Americans moving forward in their journey toward not simply equal treatment but equal respect for their diversity and uniqueness. Covering ten groundbreaking strategies, they inspire and empower every Black man and woman.” -- Career News Service
“…a trailblazing path for leveraging ethnic and cultural assets….[the authors] inspire and empower every Black man and woman.” -- Career News Service
“A helpful handbook designed for the average African-American armed with credentials yet in a quandary about how to flourish in the midst of a corporate culture tainted by intolerance in terms of skin color.” -- Caribbean Life
“Black Faces in White Places is the perfect book for any Black job hunter who seeks a real career….[a] thoughtful, helpful book.” – The Chicago Crusader
Synopsis
Randal Pinkett was the first African-American winner on The Apprentice. When he won, this black man also became the only contestant to be asked to share his victorywith a white woman. The request set off a firestorm that inevitably focused on the issue of race in the workplace and in society.
For generations, African-Americans have been told that to succeed, they need to work twice as hard as everyone else. But as millions were reminded by Pinkett's experience, sometimes hard work is not enough. Black Faces in White Places is about the game the competitive world in which we all live and work. It offers 10 revolutionary strategies for mastering and changing the game for the current generation, while redefining the rules for those who will follow.
This] book has much to say about solutions to our challenges in the age of Obama. Don't miss it Cornel West
Synopsis
If the name Randal Pinkett sounds familiar, it may be because Pinkett was the first African-American winner on The Apprentice. When he won, this black man also became the only contestant to be asked to share his victory—with a white woman. The request (and Pinkett’s subsequent refusal) set off a firestorm of controversy that inevitably focused on the issue of race in the American workplace and in society.
For generations, African-Americans have been told that to succeed, they need to work twice as hard as everyone else. But as millions of black Americans were reminded by Pinkett’s experience, sometimes hard work is not enough. Black Faces in White Places is about “the game”—that is, the competitive world in which we all live and work. The book offers 10 revolutionary strategies for playing, mastering, and changing the game for the current generation, while undertaking a wholesale redefinition of the rules for those who will follow. It is not only about shattering the old “glass ceiling,” but also about examining the four dimensions of the contemporary black experience: identity, society, meritocracy, and opportunity. Ultimately, it is about changing the very concept of success itself.
Based on the authors’ considerable experiences in business, in the public eye, and in the minority, the book shows how African-American professionals can (and must) think and act both Entrepreneurially and “Intrapreneurially,” combine their collective strengths with the wisdom of others, and plant the seeds of a positive and lasting legacy.
Synopsis
Advance Praise for Black Faces in White Places
“Randal Pinkett and Jeffrey Robinson’s book has much to say about solutions to our challenges in the Age of Obama. Don’t miss it!” — Cornel West, Princeton University
“There are three types of people in this world: those who make the rules, those who follow the rules, and those who redefine the rules. Drs. Pinkett and Robinson have given us a revolutionary roadmap for people of color to accomplish the latter, and to do so in a way that benefits everyone.” — William H. Cosby, Jr., Ed.D., and Camille O. Cosby, Ed.D.
“An intriguing exploration into the personal, professional, and spiritual dimensions of being Black in 21st century America. If you care deeply about the future of our communities and our country, you should care about this book.”— Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO, NAACP
“This book is a ‘must read’ to fully understand the Black experience in any professional setting. Black Faces in White Places takes a look at race and professional accomplishment in post-Obama America. Drs. Pinkett and Robinson interview entrepreneurs, corporate execs, educators, religious and community leaders to identify 10 clear strategies to be successful oneself–and to help others as well.” — Soledad O’Brien, Anchor and Special Correspondent, CNN
“The ‘10 Game-Changing Strategies’ in Black Faces in White Places are so powerful, so compelling, and so simple, it made me wonder why someone didn’t think of them sooner! Thank you, Dr. Pinkett and Dr. Robinson.”— Judge Glenda Hatchett
“Pinkett and Robinson’s ‘10 Game-Changing Strategies’ should be for people of color what Stephen Covey’s ‘7 Habits’ were for highly effective people.” — Roland S. Martin, Analyst, CNN Host, Managing Editor, Washington Watch, TV One Cable Network Senior Analyst, The Tom Joyner Morning Show
“At last, a one-stop resource that addresses the particular issues associated with being a minority within a majority culture. This book could not have come at a better time. Thank you, Drs. Pinkett and Robinson!”— Stephen R. Covey, Bestselling Author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families
“At last, a book that isn’t narrowly focused on how to become ‘successful.’ Black Faces in White Places challenges each of us to look beyond our individual agendas and chart a course for ‘greatness’ – a collective agenda of helping others, thus creating a ripple effect that is felt for generations and generations to come.” — Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
About the Author
RANDAL PINKETT, PH.D. is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, an information technology and management consulting firm. He was the season four winner of “The Apprentice.”
JEFFREY ROBINSON, PH.D. is a leading business scholar at Rutgers Business School.
PHILANA PATTERSON is a business news editor for the Associated Press.
Table of Contents
C O N T E N T S
Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . XV
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . XIX
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PART I: LEARNING THE GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Strategy 1: Establish a Strong Identity and Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Strategy 2: Obtain Broad Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Strategy 3: Demonstrate Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
PART II: PLAYING THE GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Strategy 4: Build Diverse and Solid Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Strategy 5: Seek the Wisdom of Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Strategy 6: Find Strength in Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
PART III: MASTERING THE GAME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Strategy 7: Think and Act Intrapreneurially . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Strategy 8: Think and Act Entrepreneurially . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
PART IV: REDEFINING THE GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Strategy 9: Synergize and Reach Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Strategy 10: Give Back Generously . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Strategy 10 to Strategy 1: Identity and Purpose Revisited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Epilogue: Is Success the Standard or Is Greatness the Goal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
About the Authors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267