"Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness by Randall Pinkett and Jeffrey Robinson.


I wish I’d had this book a decade ago. I needed it desperately. I’d taken a high profile position with a Prestigious Institution [which I won't name] as the Senior Research Project Coordinator of a multi-million dollar federal grant. I was one of only two African Americans to hold that position [male or female] in that Department. I was qualified for the position, but unprepared to play the game. As a matter of fact, I had no idea what the game was. I had no mentor’s or network connections. And when my “Black Faces in White Places" moment occurred I was shocked and appalled. I was unable to recover. I remember the day I called my pastor from work crying. I feared that I would curse the entire Board of Directors out. He urged me to leave the building. I did. I managed to overt a workplace meltdown, but it just prolonged the inevitable. I quit. I went out and started my own successful Organizational Development and Human Resource Development Consulting Business, but I had flat out failed at playing the game.

The authors have designed this book as a roadmap to help readers transcend their “Black Faces in White Places” moments, redefine the game, and make it easier for the next generation to do the same.” These “moments” they are referring too are when we as African Americans are confronted with unique challenges in the workplace related only to our race. We use to refer to this as the “glass ceiling”, but they suggest we replace that metaphor with what they have coined “the ever-changing game.” This book outlines strategies used by other successful African Americans that will help us “to compete, win, and ultimately change for the better an ever-changing game." The people profiled in this book have “learned the game, played the game, mastered the game, and found themselves in a position to redefine the game.”

“Black Faces in White Places” is filled with valuable information for achieving success in the workplace. These strategies will assist not only young African Americans finishing College, but anyone entering the workplace for the first time. This book outlines a vigorous approach which if applied diligently would compensate for any disadvantage, regardless of race. However, I believe the success solely depends upon whether the person possess the self-determination and strive for excellence mentioned by the authors. This foundation is crucial to any success achieved in the workplace and unfortunately without it, no amount of strategies will help.

The authors came from nurturing families which made for a great foundation towards success. I would have loved for the authors to address how young urban African Americans from a broken homes can develop within themselves the qualities needed to master the “ever-changing game.” This Generation appears to be entering the workplace totally unprepared to go beyond an entry-level experience. They possess no knowledge of how to identify the game, play the game, master the game, let alone redefine the game. Maybe, that will be their next book.


Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publicist in exchange for a fair review. Compensation was not exchanged.

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Dianne Rosena Jones is the Founder/CEO of Royal Treasures Publishing, a Transformational Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Author of the award-winning “Tragic Treasures: Discovering Spoils of War in the Midst of Tragedy” the "Best Inspirational Book of the Year" [2010].