Abstract
The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 spurred a period of worldwide civil unrest. His death also catalyzed a phase of organizational reckoning and reflection on the pervasiveness of racism, which continues to exist in and influence societal systems. This study aimed to shed light on the budgeting ecosystem at a flagship, public, 4-year university in California from the lens of the institution’s Black staff. Data collected suggested despite progress made in improving race relations, racial problems that abound nationwide about diversity and inclusion continue to plague Black staff at this institution. Black staff continue to feel invisible, uninvolved, unappreciated, and unrecognized. These factors led to them feeling disengaged from the budgetary ecosystem. Still, some changes already initiated and implemented by senior leadership provide hope for incremental institutional improvements in the future.