Alright, so check this out. Last week I went out for a service learning position (otherwise known as internship). I went to a local community that is predominantly Latin for the internship interview. Understand that I am a pre-law student and have been in the legal game in one form or the other for the past 5 years already. I am blond and green eyed and my family's heritage is German-Irish. Obviously I looked like a fish out of water in the Latin community but I didn't care, I went to put my skills to use and become a benefit not just to fit-in. Well, upon arriving in the interview the first thing that was told to me after I was looked up and down was that "This is not LA Law". Really? I had no idea I wasn't applying for a Hollywood acting position, I thought to myself. I found the first statement that they made rather insulting. Do I look as though I would not like law if it wasn't displayed on the T.V? My resume depicts the trenches of the legal work that I have done, not the glitz and glamour. Were they judging me on the fact that I am a woman that is of German heritage trying to assist in a community that is Latin? Of course other questions were asked of me that led me to the possibility that I was being judged on my ethnic background and appearance. Now this is interesting and something I didn't really see coming. After leaving the interview I quite honestly felt discriminated against. Understand that I did not include all of the pointed questions that were given to me due to the fact that I really do not feel comfortable posting the statements that were made to me that led me to the ultimate feeling that I was being discriminated against. I also sensed an air of elitism in the things that they said to me over other minorities such as Asian, African American etc. I guess stereotypes, assumptions about race and gender, ethnic background etc. are all still alive and well in today's job market. This is all a real shame because as a student, I wanted to intern with this particular company since last semester. I was a big advocate for their organization and quite frankly now, well, I believe that I will be removing my name from their list because I do not wish to intern with a company that I believe to be discriminating, possibly racist as well as an organization that feels one minority is superior to another minority.
Oh, and one more thing, in regards to socio-economic oppression....... well, last time I looked we are ALL in the same boat suffering greatly at the hands of our country's recession.
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ReplyDeleteWhat I'm about to say may piss some people off, but whatever. I totally hear ya. Some of the most racist people in this country are some of the ones that claim to be the biggest victims of racism. NOT ALL, but some. They are the ones that turn things that probably weren't racial issues to start with into racial ones because it gets them what they want. I've been profiled, I've been beat up by cops, I don't have any money. Is that because I'm white?
ReplyDeleteI think the bigger problem is the arrogance of some in charge and the arrogance of those put in positions of power (ie. police and others), and not necessarily because of racism. There are racist people in the world, yes, and it's messed up. But not EVERY bad thing that happens is because of it, and there are people that would like us to believe it is, that every problem today is the racist white man. It's those people that perpetuate racism the most, probably more than the racists themselves.
You and I talked about this and I was going to try to do my internship there too, until your experience there changed my mind. I'd rather help PEOPLE that need help. And Latinos are not the only people with problems, and they are not the only people in need of help...
I think this issue is just so damn touchy. I would have been angry also. I think its hard because we go to a school like CSUMB where most of what we learn about is how bad our ancestors were when they invaded this place and how awful the white man has been, and is continuing to be to minorities. I have definitely had some classes where i felt like i shouldn't give my opinion and participate in a discussion because if i did i would be looked down upon. Sometimes i walk away so frustrated and want to scream "WERE NOT ALL LIKE THAT." But on some level i understand the frustration and the wariness of certain people who have had a harder time growing up than i have. I will never be able to understand the position they're in and that they've been in, but they'll never be able to understand mine.
ReplyDeleteWhen you experiance something like that, it is a hard thing to swallow. Oh, how you hope (sometimes for their sake) you are mistaken that they are discriminating against you or anyone. And it is too bad that stereotyping and racism is alive and kickin'. I can't wait for the day, we are all a little of everything and to be racist against someone else, would be to be racist against themselves (hope that makes sense:) Good for you to get out of there, but that sucks that had to happen.
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