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First, I am sorry for Justice Guzman and husband that this happened.
Second, I’d like to take a second to address some of the comments this tweet received.
Back in college, I worked for my school as a parking assistant. Around my senior year, when I already knew I was going https://twitter.com/justiceguzman/status/1353435307908194305
Second, I’d like to take a second to address some of the comments this tweet received.
Back in college, I worked for my school as a parking assistant. Around my senior year, when I already knew I was going https://twitter.com/justiceguzman/status/1353435307908194305
to law school, I was going about my business when the following happened: I used to kill time during slow moments by reading. On this particular day and time, I was reading the Wall Street Journal. When I finished,
I walked out of my booth (the recycling bin was closer to the car gate since sometimes customers would also use it) to discard the newspaper. At this same time, a vehicle was approaching the gate.
The woman driving stops right where I was (which she had to do anyway because of
The woman driving stops right where I was (which she had to do anyway because of
the positioning of the gate) and says, “wow, you’re doing such a great job cleaning. I am looking for someone to clean my house.”
There’s really no more to the story than this. I wasn’t cleaning anything. She just saw a Hispanic woman and thought, “sweet! Here’s someone who
There’s really no more to the story than this. I wasn’t cleaning anything. She just saw a Hispanic woman and thought, “sweet! Here’s someone who
can clean my house.”
Needless to say, I didn’t take her up on her offer.
Okay, time to break down why these type of interactions are bad and should be highlighted.
One comment I may get from this is “get over it, people make mistakes.” Sure, that’s true, people do make
Needless to say, I didn’t take her up on her offer.
Okay, time to break down why these type of interactions are bad and should be highlighted.
One comment I may get from this is “get over it, people make mistakes.” Sure, that’s true, people do make
mistakes, but this type of bias and micro aggressions go beyond that.
When this woman (and others who think like her) see me, they don’t see potential. They just see a box and no matter what I do, they don’t care because I only fit into that box. This is harmful because it can
When this woman (and others who think like her) see me, they don’t see potential. They just see a box and no matter what I do, they don’t care because I only fit into that box. This is harmful because it can
Hinder mine & others’ advancement opportunities. She didn’t see a bright young student worker (I’m not saying I was either, just bear with me) who cared enough about the world to read the news during her down time at work. She knew nothing about me but her default assumption was
brown = great at cleaning. Which, by the way, I’m not.
These biases transfer over to other situations. They can affect development, networking, promotions, etc. So highlighting them helps people realize why they’re harmful.
Sure, this one time we can say it was a
These biases transfer over to other situations. They can affect development, networking, promotions, etc. So highlighting them helps people realize why they’re harmful.
Sure, this one time we can say it was a
mistake and let it go. But what about the next time a boss makes a discretionary decision that they don’t tell you about based on that box? Not such an innocent mistake anymore.
Another comment I might get is “why are you demeaning house cleaners with this comment?” Personally,
Another comment I might get is “why are you demeaning house cleaners with this comment?” Personally,
I think these comments are made in bad faith because not once have I said anything negative about house cleaners.
But if you’re not making this comment in bad faith, again, I still haven’t said anything negative about house cleaners.
So all of this to say, we must continue
But if you’re not making this comment in bad faith, again, I still haven’t said anything negative about house cleaners.
So all of this to say, we must continue
to highlight these occurrences because awareness helps us combat our biases. And doing so, will only help us actively work to diversify and include everyone.
And also because venting is therapeutic. These interactions (and there have been so many of them) still hurt.
And also because venting is therapeutic. These interactions (and there have been so many of them) still hurt.
