I’m a black woman who went in for an interview years ago to be an MA at a American private practice health office. I have natural hair (YES!) and I rock it proudly. I do not care what people think. It’s my body and my existence.
I remember the hiring manager (a white LGBTQ man) interviewed me for roughly 20 minutes. We talked about allyship and the queer community. But, at the same time, he passive aggressively looks at my hair in judgment. He couldn’t stop looking at my hair like I wasn’t good enough. I’m not stupid and I know microgagressions when I see it.
I felt so less than and he was pretty cold and hostile. I knew that I wasn’t going to get the job. (Good!)
There were no other black people and it was a very homogenous environment. I’m not working at a place that doesn’t want or value me as a black person. Absolutely not.
Looking back, I dodged a bullet and I smile knowing I didn’t have to endure a racist manager. Thank God!!! I’m mad at myself for not just up and leaving mid intervie