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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.
Glass Ceiling
- Workplace Unfairness
- Male
- African-American
- Engineering
- Left & is now Self-Employed
- Double Standards
- International Experience
- Stereotyping
I worked as an engineer for a manufacturing company in England where there were very few blacks. After I had been there awhile, I wanted to lead teams but I noticed I was getting overlooked. In fact, I was overlooked for this other guy who was my peer. No one came to me to discuss more responsibility or promotions. When I brought it up everyone kept giving me excuses like you don't have enough experience and you're too young. It never occurred to them that I should be considered a team leader. I was experiencing what I saw as racial discrimination.