I’ll try to start from the beginning. I noticed that one of the managers was having difficulty keeping up with some of the work required of her, so I asked our manager (the one above both of us) if I can take up some of the workload since I have experience. In less than a week, I got a pay raise and now have an additional sets of tasks with a meeting I’m required to attend once a week.
I end up finishing the work on time, and I fall behind on some of my original tasks, but that’s to be expected, given the extra work load. She notices this, and thinks that I should be performing the same despite experienced team members leaving and having to pick up more of the shared work that would’ve been completed between me and my other team members.
When the position opens up to become a manager pertaining to the extra work that I picked up, it is an announced in front of the entire team and everyone, including my boss, encourage me to apply. I handed in an supporting documents hours before the deadline, detailing why I would be a great pick for this role. I was called in for an interview with my boss and she mentioned that she’s harder on people of color and recognizes that this is a problem. I initially brushed off but after leaving the interview I realized that I probably wouldn’t get picked because I’m a person of color and in her eyes I’d have to be perfect. I went through two more rounds of interviews before I got rejected, which wasn’t an easy pill to swallow. I felt like a fool and I couldn’t help but think that I was judged harsher because I’m a person of color, despite having an extra set of tasks.
Finally, the person that was picked over me came into the office, and it was a white woman. My worst fears were confirmed and I couldn’t help but feel like I had just experienced racism in the workplace. My entire demeanor shifted, and it was felt throughout the entire team which made my boss pulled me to the side and ask if anything was wrong. I said no, because I was still working through complex feelings and honestly planned to leave the company. However, I don’t know if I’m just freaking out here. So, I’d appreciate some words of advice and honestly some kind words. Thanks.