Member-only story
Living in the Skin I’m In
Perspectives on life as a Black woman
A few years ago, I interviewed for a position within an organization. I was being interviewed by a panel of people — all of them white. Now, at the outset, there is nothing wrong with that, but in my opinion, the main interviewer was being overly gratuitous. For a number of reasons, I got the distinct feeling that he was more interested in my ethnicity than my actual skills. I wondered if I would get the job because of my skin color rather than the expertise I would bring to the table.
Perhaps it was an erroneous perception on my part, but I could not shake the feeling that my race was of more concern than my actual qualifications. As a result, I made a fatal error. Towards the end of the interview, when asked if I had any questions, I asked with all boldness, “Are you all looking for the best qualified for the job, or are you specifically looking for a Black person?” Taken aback, the main interviewer responded that they were looking for the best fit for their organization. He denied that my race was a focal point. But something about that interview left me feeling uneasy. I was not convinced that I was the right person for the job.
Although grateful for their interest in me, I chose candor over tact or diplomacy. At the time, I thought my question was a fair one. But in retrospect…
