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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.
My reasons for leaving the law firm and staying where I am at now.
The sole reason I left the law firm to go work for an Asian organization is that it is a safe space where I can speak freely and say what I want without being judged. It's not just a mere level of comfort. What comes with that is that I can grow professionally and emotionally. I never want to leave. There is no back stabbing or stereotypes. My relationships with co-workers are great.