What does it take to be a black leader in Boston?

Having spent most of my time working in the town of Randolph since Covid, I rarely make the trip to Boston for business. However, last week, a meeting with a prospective client necessitated a journey to the city. As I hit the road and headed towards Boston on 93 North, I tuned in to WBUR, my trusty companion during my drives. It was a pleasure to soak in the scenic views of the coastline from UMass Boston and once again admire the towering cityscape of Boston. Boston is undeniably beautiful. Approaching the South Station exit, a strange feeling overcame me. My heart began to race, and I felt a deep pang in my chest. Anxiety washed over me. This was not a new sensation. I had experienced this level of anxiety before when driving to Boston, but today, I experienced all the manifestations of post traumatic syndrome. As I am very familiar with the literature on the impact of racism on cardio-vascular disease, I decided not to evade it. I wanted to sit with my discomfort, confront it, and try to understand its source. I couldn’t help but wonder, is it just me, or do other black leaders also experience this city as a source of pain? Does driving towards Boston evoke memories of subtle rejections or blatant acts of racial discrimination for them as well? <a href="https://medium.com/@nmetayer/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-black-leader-in-boston-096a7a50c7d0">Click Here</a>