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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.
It's not brain surgery for us
- Workplace Unfairness
- Female
- African-American
- Arts/Entertainment/Media
- Left & is now Self-Employed
- Personal Care & Service
- Bad Boss
- Coworker
- Good Boss
- Representation
- Stereotyping
- Tip
As African American women, we are accustomed to putting white women at ease. It's not brain surgery for us. I was the only black woman in my organization. Even at my interview, I noticed that the board president was uncomfortable. I started work in August, when we have no concerts and everyone goes on their vacation. During this time, my boss went to Europe. However, there were a few board meetings that I was asked to attend and accompany the board president, because they had to do with staffing, which I was in charge off. Not knowing the culture of the non-profit - I came from corporate America -- I sat at the table. I didn't realize that support staff people were supposed to sit at the table in the back, and no one told me. So during these meeting, I'd go and answer the questions that the board president didn't know. Of course she didn't know, because it was staff stuff. She didn't need to know. When my boss got back from Europe, he calls me and asks, "What the fuck have you been doing?" That didn't bother me, but I asked, "What do you mean?" He said, "I just got a call from the Board President and she wants me to fire you." I said, "WHAT?" He said, "I don't want you to do anything until Monday." So I had to live through the whole weekend. At the meeting on Monday it was obvious that she didn't think I knew my place. She had never worked with an outspoken black woman. I had an ally in my boss because he wanted things to work out. My boss said she couldn't fire me, because she couldn't fire him.