What am I? Chopped Liver?

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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.

Therese Wendell shares 4 experiences

The other thing I noticed was the male manager would go around to the other men's offices to visit and chat and to build the informal relationships. I said, "What am I? Chopped liver? Why don't you stop at my office like you do you so-and-so's and so-and-so's?" He said, "Oh, I do that." I brought it to his attention, but it didn't change anything. So I started going to his office to try to build that relationship. But it never really felt the same. I had to go through all the extra steps. I had to call it out. I had to go to his office. You have to assert yourself just to be seen.