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.
Advice to Peer
If I were trying to assist someone else in how to be successful with the first attorney, I would say that you would have to work for virtually nothing and not let her talk to you in a rude or degrading manner.
I really don't know how to answer this - "be an upper-class, well educated, professional straight white man (without a disability - see below) who professes to be a thoughtful, open-minded person" is probably the real answer, but that isn't too helpful if you aren't one of those things.
Just be positive. Don't let anyone get in the way of your possibilities in your life and create what you want to create.
Don't trust anyone at your current job. You may not know that they may be stabbing you in the back. Always work hard enough so top supervisors can see that you have a lot of dedication to the company.
Life is too short for nonsense, start your own business. If you are not a risk taker, work at a company where the majority of the people are like you.
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.
I would advise potential employees to document everything, provide details to more than one manager, and to keep their payroll records.
My insider's guide would be that you need to understand the culture prior to determining how you can be included in the organization.
Always go the extra mile. You must be assertive, articulate, professional and confident. Maintain your self-respect; once you lose that you lose everything! Model the behavior that you would like to receive.
If you are willing to sacrifice your ethics and personal life for the pursuit of money, then this is the place for you.
