Browse Stories
Vote on Desiree Davidson's Story
Were they afraid we were planning a coup d'etat?
I spent my first summer during Columbia Law School at a firm in Philadelphia described as one of the best places in the city for black lawyers. I believed that if there was any place where I would have an equal chance at opportunities, be treated fairly and succeed, this would be it. There were three black female summer associates out of sixty that year but any time all three of us were in an office talking, one of the partners would knock on the door to see how we were doing. It happened too often to be a coincidence that sometimes we would purposely agree to meet in so-and-so's office to test our theory that we were being monitored. Like clock work, ten minutes after we would get together a partner would stop by.
Elliot Hicks's Experiences
Everybody-white, black, Asian, Indian, male, female-we all have obstacles to overcome. I think everybody has some obstacles to get beyond. I think as an African-American, I've experienced positive support and barriers as well.
I started out in the area of testing and measurement. But overtime I wanted to navigate toward the development side and away from the stress of the manufacturing side, but corporate politics got in the way.
When I got a mentor, it was a person who sat me down and said: "This is what you do to get promoted. This what you do to get a raise. This is the department you need to go in." Things were better when I was taking that advice.
I work in an environment where on Tuesday, the manager can come in and say, "I want you in China on Wednesday." I once had to go to Manila on two days notice. I remember being there on July 4th, when everyone else had the day off and was relaxing.