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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.
Therese Wendell's Experiences
The other thing I noticed was the male manager would go around to the other men's offices to visit and chat and to build the informal relationships. I said, "What am I? Chopped liver? Why don't you stop at my office like you do you so-and-so's and so-and-so's?" He said, "Oh, I do that." I brought it to his attention, but it didn't change anything.
I've only shared this story one other time. I work with a white woman, who is at the director level and reports to me. We have a congenial relationship and we would go out for drinks. I got tickets for game six of the World Series and I was going to be flown to the game in the company jet; the whole nine yards.
I was at a company where I was only one of two or three women on a team with nine men. The other women wouldn't speak up. When I started to speak up in meetings, there were more jokes made at my expense.
White people always play the race card. We are always accused of playing the race card. There is a double standard that is constantly applied. If I talk to an executive who has an opening, I'll say, "This is a great opportunity for a diverse candidate." He'll say, "I'm happy to consider a diverse qualified candidate." With the same breath they will take a white candidate with seven months of experience and promote them straight up the ranks regardless of background or experience.