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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 like trying to catch a train when it is going at a certain speed
- Workplace Unfairness
- Cultural Differences
- Drinking
- Exclusion
- Holiday
- Religion
- Socializing
- Unwelcoming Environment
There are many reasons we don't fit in at work. Number one: praying on Fridays. Number two: fasting, which goes against a lot of what happens at company functions. Number three: alcohol, which is served at almost every company function. Number four: how to socialize outside of work, which for the most part involves catching a drink after work. It's like trying to catch a train when it is going at a certain speed, sometimes you are able to and sometimes you're not. At least some things I can fit in with, but some things I don't.