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.
Humiliation
This is my story of how I was excluded in a position that I truly deserved at my previous employer. I am a hard-working Hispanic and try to gain everyone's respect.
I had been passed over for more than one promotion by people with less seniority, experience, and knowledge but what really was the last straw was the rampant sexual harassment.
I had a coworker who consistently asked me out on dates (despite my telling him I wasn't interested).
Each Tuesday we had staff meetings where we would review each case. My boss would use those cases to identify individuals he wanted to scrutinize.
I was working at a small social service agency for almost ten years when a Caucasian female from the Midwest was hired.
Audit time came and the records of the white man I was replacing were all disorganized. Numbers didn't balance. Thing didn't add up. Because I replaced him, my boss was coming to me to find information for the auditors.
When did the fire go out? When I went to the company I had fire. I gave up my weekends. I gave up my nights. I thought this was going to be such the thing. But after a while reality set in. I remember being in a meeting with a bunch of people and after I made a comment, my manager stood up and said, "Sometimes we just have to shut up so decisions can be made." I remember thinking in that instant, I'm leaving.
