Faith Over Fear

"A powerful story of faith, perseverance, and resilience." Anthony Fauci, M.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author and former Director of the NIAID What drives you forward? Is it the pursuit of your ideals or something deeper that‘s rooted in the tension between who you are and who you will become? Michael Leach, the first-ever Chief Diversity Office of the White House, in his debut book, Faith Over Fear, takes you on a journey that explores the gap between what we aspire to and what we often settle for, both as individuals and as a society. Often as the lone Black man at the forefront of these organizations and operations, Michael has chosen to learn from his experiences, lead, and help others progress. In 2016, when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to ‘take a knee‘, Leach resonated profoundly. Kaepernick‘s actions challenged Michael to balance his identity as a Black man with his professional ambitions within the league. This lead him to leave the NFL and join the Biden-Harris administration. In Faith Over Fear, Michael illuminates the stark contrasts between ideals and realities, shedding light on the hidden dynamics of privilege, power, and systemic injustice. He discusses the importance of DEI and inspires readers to reimagine leadership, resilience, and purpose. Leach shares: How you can close the gap between your ideals and the realities you live in. Insights and principles to help you navigate your career, relationships, personal growth, and social challenges. How to acknowledge the role of fear and work with others. This is more than a story of one man‘s journey, it is a call to action for individuals of all backgrounds to harness the power of faith and resilience in the face of adversity. Our country was founded on ideals that promised freedom and opportunity for all, but the reality has often been far more complicated. Leach‘s story demonstrates by "taking a knee" before God in moments of uncertainty, we can shift life‘s challenges into opportunities for meaningful progress and collective healing. This book aspires to be a generationally transformative narrative, urging readers to critically examine and bridge the gap between the ideals we hold dear and the realities we live.