In a time where diversity, equity and inclusion are huge buzz words in society, immigrants of African descent (IAD) in American higher education institutions (of all places) seem to still struggle with how they are identified. Black people and Black culture are not a monolith. Black people of foreign origin do not necessarily identify the same or share the same experiences because they have the same skin color. This concept of amalgamating all Black people into the African American ethnicity continues to persist, disrupt and challenge the identities of immigrants of African descent. This qualitative study explores the experiences of twelve African and Afro-Caribbean immigrant administrators and faculty at predominantly White institutions of higher education in the U.S. This study explores the challenges, and inequities experienced by these leaders as well as the coping strategies they develop to thrive in these predominantly White spaces. These participant narratives disclosed mental and physical health challenges such as stress, lack of psychological safety, feeling invisible in the academy, pressure to assimilate into PWI culture, high blood pressure, miscarriages, weight gain, and hair loss. They also experienced institutional and systemic racism including microaggressions, stereotypes, having to code-switch, tone down their accents, limit their expressive language/speech as well as adjust their appearance. The themes that emerged include IAD challenges, coping strategies to thrive at PWI, IAD support, reflections and recommendations and leadership and cultural influence. The data analysis for this study revealed that African and Afro-Caribbean immigrants in leadership roles sacrifice their mental and physical health to be successful in their careers at predominantly White institutions of higher education. The findings of this study will help to inform how higher education leaders particularly in Human Resource offices and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices can be intentional about the spaces, processes and policies formed at their institutions as they approach and discern the differences among the Black diaspora. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]