What the giants want you to know.
Young people of color confront a myriad of challenges that deter them from considering, pursuing, and succeeding in careers in international affairs. The authors of The Young Black Leader’s Guide address these challenges, drawing on the experiences of Black American giants in the field to provide systematic, practical advice. The book brings not only tips but huge names in the International Affairs Field to inspire and give the most valuable inside view and information to trace a successful path for an international affairs career.
From getting started to learning to lead, from overcoming imposter syndrome to acing performance reviews, from dealing with racism to knowing when to say no, the invaluable tips and hard-earned wisdom in the book go beyond standard resources to provide an essential guide for diverse Americans seeking to play a much-needed role in the global arena.
The book provides an important bridge, giving younger generations access to the great voices of experience, achievement, and courage—voices they might not have otherwise imagined accessing. Maybe they don’t even know these accomplished individuals exist. We held focus groups with Black graduate students and with recently awarded fellows of the Pickering and Rangel fellowship programs to learn what they needed. We asked the tough questions, what young people want and need to know.
“There is a hunger that young people have, to be claimed, to be a part of an intergenerational—a trans-generational experience, to know people, because without knowing another generation, they feel incomplete, just like I feel incomplete without knowing younger people. And so we are incomplete without knowing each other.”
Ruby Sales, civil rights activist giant
We asked one of our students to review the unpublished manuscript. Hannah Jackson is the co-founder of the Elliott School of International Affairs Young Black Professionals in International Affairs student organization. She affirmed the power of our inter-generational approach:
“International affairs is not something I can really critically discuss with my parents or family, but after reading this book I feel as though I am part of a whole new, much larger family of aunts and cousins and uncles who are all rooting for me. It’s the affirming power of being seen and being heard that resonated with me the most. The book is extraordinarily authentic, real, riveting, and heartfelt…. The entire way through I felt as if I were talking to an aunt who knows me better than I know myself and is able to give me the confidence, faith, and tough love I need to persist…. The entire book is a really deep conversation with a family member, who is holding your hand the entire conversation, that ends with a hug.”
Hannah Jackson, co-founder of the Elliott School of International Affairs Young Black Professionals in International Affairs
The Generations Dialogue Project seeks to extend that sense of support and care to as many young people as possible.