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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.
I'm talking about how to cook beans and dance salsa
- Workplace Unfairness
- Female
- African-American
- Latino/a or Hispanic
- Mixed Race
- Health Care
- Left & is now a Small Business Entrepreneur
- Management Consulting
- Assumptions
- Double Life
- Low Expectations
- Stereotyping
In Corporate America, it was a little surprising to people that I was smart. The way I know I'm not welcome is that I'm extremely welcomed (they bend over backwards to make it look like I'm welcome, but it is awkward, and I know they are uncomfortable.) As long as I'm talking about how to cook black beans and dance salsa, I'm okay. But if I want to talk to you about business decisions and strategy, there is a visual dissonance. I have a double stereotype. I'm either supposed to be the sexy, exotic mulatto or I'm supposed to be a quiet, humble Latina. When I shift and start talking business and acting outspoken, then people say, "Is she really Latino?" They start thinking I'm black. Not only is my work questioned, but my identity and self are questioned.