Chapter 1: Reflections of a Formerly Apologetic Race Researcher

In the opening scene of the classic film Good Fellas, the central character Henry Hill says, “As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a gangster.” For me, as far as I can recall, I have always been a race researcher (albeit often an unpaid one). For example, after being admitted to the “gifted and talented” special education program for the first grade, I remember wondering why all of my classmates were White while all of my neighbors were Black (like me). In the more than 40 years since then, I have continued to be fascinated by race and its impact across the many spheres of life. As I became an industrial and organizational psychologist, perhaps it was only natural that I would study race at work. It certainly didn’t feel that way in graduate school.