Thriving while Black: A systematic review of Black employee workplace experiences across the career life cycle

Abstract Despite decades of research on racial inequities in organizations, scholarship on Black employees has largely focused on barriers to success, with limited attention to the conditions that enable them to thrive. This systematic review synthesizes 124 empirical studies published over the past 25 years to examine the workplace experiences of Black employees across the career life cycle—entry, employment, and exit. Drawing from organizational behavior, applied psychology, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) research, we move beyond a deficit‐based framing to emphasize mechanisms that foster thriving, defined as a state of learning, vitality, and meaningful career engagement. Our findings reveal a persistent emphasis on interpersonal and structural barriers such as hiring discrimination, biased evaluations, microaggressions, and limited access to informal networks. However, we also identify underexamined pathways to thriving, including psychological safety, culturally attuned mentorship and sponsorship, and inclusive leadership practices. Notably, few studies explicitly frame outcomes in terms of Black employee thriving, underscoring a gap in the literature. We present an integrative framework and research agenda to guide future scholarship toward understanding how Black employees navigate and succeed in organizational contexts. This review offers timely insights for scholars and practitioners seeking to design equitable workplace systems that move beyond inclusion to sustained growth and advancement.