I almost came to tears sitting in my office thinking about why I decided early on I needed [not just wanted] to own my own business.
I grew up in Texas but was a bit illusive to the reality of the culture and climate of the south.
I’ll never forget the day.
It was beautiful, bright and sunny, and I’d just gotten a call from the temp. agency (an employment agency that provides short and long term job placement) for my first assignment. It was at a prestigious law firm in one of the most prominent areas in Dallas. I was going to be their legal secretary and the face that greeted clients as they entered the lobby. I was elated!
I arrived to the location dressed to impressed; hair was laid and on point. No sooner than I sat down at the desk designated for me did the temp. agency call me and say “Hey. We need you to just pick up your things, leave the job site and come to our offices.” I know! I was just as surprised as you!
After a 15-minute drive in an utter state of cluelessness, I was parallel parking my Toyota on the north side of their glass building. As I hesitantly entered the front door with a look of confusion on my face, the receptionist greeted me and then immediately directed me to the Recruiter’s office. I hadn’t even gotten the chance to sit yet before she asked me to state the law firm’s greeting so she could hear how I delivered it followed by the comment ‘well, it’s not what you’re wearing or an inability to enunciate - sounds like you went to a great school.” Oh, wait! There’s more. She then proceeded to tell me how the law firm had turned down every black person the agency had sent and that there had been complaints of discrimination but they [the temp. agency] ‘wanted to know for sure.’ So, hold up! You mean to tell me y’all used me as part of some experiment? I didn’t say that but it’s certainly what I was thinking.
Needless to say, this opened my eyes to many truths I was forced to face through experience. As I drove away that day with the temp. agency looking better and better in my rearview mirror, I thought to myself that I’d one day build a black owned business where I hired people solely based on their skills set and character, and would never ask that they leave a part of themselves on the other side of the door.
I sit here in deep gratitude for the opportunity to change the landscape.
Welcome to the future.
Hello gorgeous!!!