tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11279250.post111587181824351060..comments2024-02-13T01:35:29.765-06:00Comments on MultiCultClassics: Essay Thirty-SixHighJivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372784671087002387noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11279250.post-11683341777796579072009-08-21T08:32:34.507-05:002009-08-21T08:32:34.507-05:00I am the only black person ever to work for my com...I am the only black person ever to work for my company in its 20 year history. This is a small information management firm and I believe I was an affirmative action hire. I didn't even apply for this job. They searched me out on a diversity job search site. Shortly after getting the job, I learned that the company recently signed a lucrative contract with a government military branch which anyone knows that if you have a government contract you must have a certain percentage of minorities. While I don't directly feel discriminated against, I do feel as if I am not a part of the "team". When the office talk is going on, I feel totally uninvolved, because they are talking about things that don't interest me. They don't initiate conversation with me like they do with each other. At first I thought it was because I was new, but after 2 years, I am not new anymore. Many of the employees in this very small company have been here for 10+ years, and for many this is the only job they ever had right out of high school or college, then along comes me. They've never had to relate to a black person on the job not even in dealing with our clients as 95% of that is on the phone or via email. I need some diversity in my job. I am thankful to have it as I went 7 months before getting it. I've been here over 1 1/2 years, but I must find something else. I've even began looking into jobs that advertise their diversity. If the right job comes along, I will even relocate.Diannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09149754151272586369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11279250.post-1152025211984525112006-07-04T10:00:00.000-05:002006-07-04T10:00:00.000-05:00I read Black Voices every once in a while and usua...I read Black Voices every once in a while and usually just laugh at the nonsense but this was kind of insightful. I'm the only minority in my job and I've hit some bumps in the road during my 3 years here. My predecessor actually tried to sabotage me even though he left of his own volition - for a job in Finland!<BR/>I believe that there are many ways to experience racism on the job but I don't court it, inflame it or put up with it in any respect while at the same time taking good stock of myself and work habits so that I know that I can say I'm doing the absolute best. If I know I'm doing all that I may have a cause to claim racism sometimes, but I think that accusation can be thrown around far to cavalierly sometimes. <BR/>What most disturbed me about these accounts was actually this, from the very first woman: "and I am light-skinned. Imagine what would be said for a true black woman...", now that's racism!inciquayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10586533177891603104noreply@blogger.com