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.
Demotion
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.
On the Friday before Christmas a senior associate came to my desk and said that he was "really happy that in this country we have the privilege of using racial slurs, whether it be kite (sic), n**** or rag****." He was happy we could use them because he felt it was the ultimate way to hurt a person. After agonizing over what he said during the holiday party, upon my return to work, I reported the offense to the office administrator. An investigation was done, and it was found that the attorney did, in fact, make racially discriminating statements.
When finally the company was bought out, I left. They didn't want to let me go. So the VP called me and said, "We'll put you in HR and recruitment. It will be such a good experience for you." I almost laughed.
