merredith

As a young man, I applied for a Director position for which I felt uniquely qualified. I was told “you’re not ready”and offered a staff job working for the manager under the new director. I was about to be laid off so I took the job. A white man with equal experience & education was given the job. Over the next several months, my manager commented to the HR Director that he needed someone for my job because I was “always helping the Director do his job”. The HR Director told me in confidence that she told the VP that I was clearly the better candidate. There was an Asian lady in a management position that I worked with frequently. She became an EVP at another company and offered me the same Directors position within days of her hiring. When I left the Director was fired after a couple months & I learned that he didn’t have equivalent work experience. For those who believe that all is equal, I still see decisions like this to this day. I’ve seen managers send emails to recruiters saying that they don’t want women or black people. Racism is alive and well. My time as a business owner & executive gave me a different view and it wasn’t rosy. We must do better! #BrianHopkinsforCongress