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.
Arab/Arab-American
I am currently thinking about leaving the company due the Chief Operations Officer, who happens to be the sister of the company owner.
If I were giving advice to anyone else in this situation, I would say to see things from her point of view, and to think positive in that those candidates were probably not as productive as they could have been somewhere else.
The only way that I would stay is if the scope of her decision-making were put into a process that could be controlled by the owner.
I would advise potential employees to document everything, provide details to more than one manager, and to keep their payroll records.
Nepotism + authority = high employee turnover!
I am often questioned, some times ridiculed for not drinking alcohol at social events after work. Co-workers also often look down on fasting.
Sometimes I am provoked into political discussions that lead to uncomfortable situations with co-workers.
Badra Lubab
I have found great ignorance of Arab or Near Eastern history, leading to a range of reactions from hatred to condescending compassion.
