BREAKING BARRIERS: Leadership Lessons from Dr. Alexander Augusta

Today’s leaders are challenged to navigate complex power dynamics, work to build meaningful connections, while maintaining professionalism under constant pressure. How can we learn these skills? Dr. Alexander Augusta, a ceiling-breaker who overcame extraordinary odds to become the first Black physician commissioned in the Union Army during the Civil War, offers three powerful lessons. 

A Brief History: Born in 1825 to free parents of color, Alexander Thomas Augusta grew up in an America deeply entrenched in racial inequality and prejudice. Determined from a young age to pursue a career in medicine—a field virtually inaccessible to African Americans at the time—Augusta began secretly studying under a sympathetic professor from the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school. When it became clear no American college would grant admission to a Black man, Augusta relocated to Canada, where he earned his medical degree from Trinity College in Toronto in 1856. After graduation, Augusta established a successful medial practice, where he treated patients without regard to race or ability to pay, and was so well respected in his field, he was appointed as head of the Toronto City Hospital. His success in Canada, however, never diminished his desire to help his fellow Black Americans. Within a week of Lincoln’s signing the Emancipation Proclamation, which allowed for the recruitment of Blacks to the Union Army, Augusta wrote directly to the president, offering his medical services to Black regiments and Freedman. 

Lesson #1: Cultivate Strategic Alliances – Appointed to the rank of Major as a surgeon in the Union Army, Augusta reported to his first duty station, Camp Stanton, in Maryland, outranking the team of white surgeons already serving in the hospital. Despite facing racial hostility from many of his colleagues, Augusta maintained a dignified and respectful demeanor, focusing on his duties as a surgeon and treating his subordinates fairly as an officer. He quickly developed a reputation for excellence and dependability, which opened opportunities for him to create relationships with his superior officers and Surgeon General William Hammond. When a group of lower ranked surgeons, outraged by having to report to a Black officer, wrote letters of complaint to the White House demanding Augusta be removed from his position, he had staunch defenders in the network he created for himself. Rather than demotion, Hammond recommended he be transferred to Camp Barker, in Washington DC, where he was promoted to head the newly created hospital for Black soldiers and Freedman. Once Augusta took command, becoming the first African American in the United States to lead a medical facility, he was granted the authority to hire his own staff, giving medically trained Black professionals—almost always passed over in favor of white servicemen—an opportunity to serve their country alongside him.
Key Takeaway: By carefully cultivating relationships with influential figures, whether within an organization or across an industry, leaders can ensure their voice—and, by extension, the voices of those they lead—are heard and respected. 

Lesson #2: Work Within Existing Power Structures to Create Change – When Augusta was first commissioned to the Union Army, he was given a salary of $169 per month, which equaled the pay of other surgeons with the rank of Major. When the paymaster discovered Augusta was Black, however, he slashed his pay to $7 per month, which was the standard pay for all Black soldiers, regardless of rank. Augusta understood that simply challenging the practice as unfair wasn’t enough to create lasting change, so when he took his complaint to Senator Henry Wilson, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, he strategically framed his argument to resonate with those in power. Augusta didn't focus on the personal injustice; he, instead, emphasized how the disparity in pay between White and Black soldiers undermined national honor and the very principles the Union was fighting for. By connecting the issue to the broader goals of the war effort, he made it clear that addressing this inequality was in the best interest of the nation as a whole. Rather than confronting the system solely from the outside, he used his respected positions within the military and medical communities to engage with leaders within their existing power structure, and in a way that aligned with their values. Augusta’s approach worked, and his efforts contributed to the passage of legislation in 1864 that mandated equal pay for Black soldiers—a significant victory for the Union cause and a powerful testament to Augusta's strategic approach. 
Key Takeaway: By understanding and engaging with the power dynamics in our organizations and industries, we can reduce the friction necessary to drive meaningful and sustainable change. 

​Lesson #3: Maintain Professionalism Under Pressure – On a rainy day in February 1864, Augusta—in full military uniform—was denied entry to a streetcar by the conductor, who demanded he ride outside due to his race. When Augusta refused, explaining he was on his way to testify in court and needed to protect his uniform from the elements, he was forcibly pushed into the muddy street before the car departed. Rather than responding with anger, Augusta penned a remarkably composed letter to the D.C. Judge Advocate, detailing his mistreatment, yet refraining from making personal attacks against the conductor. Augusta’s letter was not only delivered to the appropriate military authorities, but also found its way into the hands of the press. Newspapers throughout Washington D.C. and New York printed Augusta’s words, sparking public outrage that a Union Officer, regardless of race, would be treated with such disrespect. The letter eventually came to the attention of Senator Charles Sumner, a prominent civil rights advocate, who was so impressed by Augusta’s measured, professional tone, he used Augusta’s letter in a Senate session to successfully push for the desegregation of Washington’s public transportation system.  
Key Takeaway: When leaders remain calm and measured under pressure, they build trust with those they lead, garner respect from their network, and ensure their words are taken seriously. 

Dr. Alexander Augusta’s life and career offer rich lessons for today’s leaders. His success was not just a product of his personal talents and determination, but also of his ability to strategically navigate the social and political landscape of his time. By cultivating alliances, maintaining professionalism under pressure, and strategically engaging with existing power structures, Augusta was able to advocate effectively for the rights of Black Americans. When we, as leaders, face our own set of challenges—from navigating complex organizational dynamics to advocating for social justice—Augusta’s leadership principles remain as relevant as ever. 
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