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.
Cross-cultural communication
It is assumed that African Americans are less intelligent or worldly. When someone is speaking to you and uses a term they assume you are unfamiliar with, they will give you the definition or explanation without you asking for it.
This experience has made me more aware of other people's differences and I make sure that I am polite to others when I respond that I am __ and not the person they thought I was.
African American woman are constantly profiled as "hostile" in corporate America (i.e., "Amarosa"). Your level of professionalism should always include an open, willing and pleasant disposition.
At a three-day training, it was obvious to me that one of the executives was trying to avoid asking me about my background. It was during Ramadan and I was fasting. Finally, he just asked, "You don't eat meat?" That was it.
Everybody-white, black, Asian, Indian, male, female-we all have obstacles to overcome. I think everybody has some obstacles to get beyond. I think as an African-American, I've experienced positive support and barriers as well.
My boss was the first Jewish person to be president of the organization. He told me stories of things that happened to him. There were board members who would tell anti-Semitic jokes at board meetings and everyone would laugh.
I remember one conversation I had with an African-American partner about Venus and Serena Williams. The partner knew about their history and how they had grown up in Compton and how it must have been for them and their dad.
There was a newly formed council called the Inclusion Council and there were about 15 people in it, mostly directors and officers from various areas of the company. When one of my colleagues simply asked, "Hey, about the Inclusion Council, do you know if there is a gay representative on the council?" The head of diversity programs launched into a tirade.
