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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.
Donatella Ferrer's Experiences
The one time I almost lost my job was a time I had a group of people I had hired and the majority of people I hired were minorities. The vice president gave me the job and told me to hire my staff and I did.
I couldn't have stayed at the company and stayed in California. Every single person from my director to the VP was gone. Everyone who knew Donatella Ferrer and what I had done in 27 was gone. I stayed
I had two young men at home who had never had a mother at home, so it was a opportunity and I took it. Now, I work with Boy Scouts of America. And even though I left, I still work with the black employees group from my old job.