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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 on the fast track until my desire to do good created distance
- Workplace Unfairness
- Male
- Latino/a or Hispanic
- Banking - Investment
- Other
- Affirming
- Assignments
- Being Yourself
- Empowering
- Exclusion
- Extracurricular
- Personal Response
- Personal Values/Life Purpose
- Standing Up
- Stifled Growth
- Underutilized
I was groomed to ascend to executive status in a fast track management program for an international financial institution. I was top in my class with excellent mentor reviews and extension requests through my rotations. Then, the ceiling hit fast. I wanted to get involved with my community, which consisted of a largely Mexican field-working population with high gang and crime rates. When word spread that I was not only involved in the usual nonprofit work but also being vocal in the general public about hot topics like education reform and immigrant issues, I began to notice being marginalized at business functions. I still worked hard and received 4 major job promotions in 4 years and tripled my salary, but the key assignments were going to folks who were less adept than me. I believe by choosing to identify publicly with my community, I inadvertently created distance from the pebble beach executive playing set that months prior whole-heartedly invited me to drink, sail, and enjoy the good life. So, I realized I didn't like the idea of being a company man or "good ole boy" because I'd have to shut up about issues that mean something to me and about the sometimes overt prejudice I often heard while doing business.