Black Magic: What Black Leaders Learned from Trauma and Triumph

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When Chad Sanders started his career in Silicon Valley, he quickly realized that success required navigating a social game dominated by whiteness. Meetings were filled with white slang and privileged discussions, leading him to believe he needed to conform to fit in. Consequently, Chad altered his wardrobe, behavior, and speech, distancing himself from his Black identity. Although he gained a sense of inclusion, it left him feeling miserable. Ultimately, he chose to abandon this façade and returned to the values instilled in him through his upbringing—lessons from family dinners, Black Baptist church, and community gatherings. This shift proved transformative; he began to secure more exciting projects and earn respect from colleagues. Chad attributes this turnaround to what he calls Black Magic—resilience, creativity, and confidence shaped by his experiences as a Black man in America. This realization led him to question whether others shared similar experiences. Through essays, he reflects on his formative moments and interviews Black leaders across various industries to explore their perspectives on Black Magic. The work delves into the complexities of Black experiences in predominantly white spaces, highlighting the dangers of self-betrayal and the importance of authenticity.