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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.
Can't you see me?
- Workplace Unfairness
- Female
- African-American
- Information Technology/Internet
- Information Technology/Internet
- Interviews
- Mistaken Identity
- Stereotyping
- Unwelcoming Environment
During an interview, I was waiting in the lobby and people would come by obviously looking for someone but not even stopping to glance at me. When my name was called, I stood up and said, "That's me." They looked like they were thinking, "Oh, my god she's black!" I went through the interview process but I didn't receive an offer.