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Abstract
While the number of African American men and women filling leadership positions in Corporate American and Fortune 500 companies has improved over the years, there is significant evidence that African Americans continues to face various barriers which stall the career development for African Americans to obtain upper level and senior level leadership positions. This study documents the voices of African American business leaders detailing their perceptions of the barriers to their career advancement in corporate America. The purpose of this qualitative, holistic, multiple case research study was to explore and examine the perspectives of African Americans business leaders who were selected to fulfill upper level and senior level positions and to examine any type of inequity they may have faced while competing for their leadership positions. The sample size for this research study was 15 African American business leaders whom have held or currently hold upper level and senior level leadership positions. Ultimately, the results from this study could be used to help future African American business leaders make better decisions which will improve their chances of being selected to fill upper level and senior level leadership positions. Using cross case analysis research methods, this study explored the aforementioned factors in Corporate America and further explored why there is a lack of African Americans being promoted to top leadership positions. Face to face and/or phone interviews were utilized to catalogue the perceptions and lived experiences of the 15 participants.