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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.
I was manipulated into signing a non-compete clause
When I started out at this company they forgot to have me sign the standard confidentiality and non-compete clause. When they found I hadn't signed it they tried to make me sign it right away. I told them I had to read through it first and when I refused to sign the non-complete clause, they began manipulating me. One of the people had heard that my husband might lose his job and said to me, "Wouldn't it be terrible if your husband lost his job." I felt as though I had to sign it so I did.