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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.
If I Were White I Would Get Further Ahead
- Workplace Unfairness
- Female
- African-American
- Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical
- Non-Profit
- Double Standards
- Impact
- Manager
- Sexual Harassment
When I was working for a pharmaceutical company, I went on a sales call with one of the directors. After we left the field, he said, "Let's go have a drink and maybe we can get something to eat." As we are drinking, he says, "You know, I am so attracted to you. I really like the way you handle yourself in the field. You are very professional. I want you to know that if you were white and you demonstrated the professional skills that you have, you would be much farther in the company than you are." He actually told me this. I didn't know if I should have been devastated or complimented. If he was physically attracted to me, why did he have to combine the two issues? Ultimately, I resigned because I didn't know what to do in that situation.