A Black Woman Stole My Job
Understanding the collective benefit of diversity.
At 7:00 every morning, I spend an hour writing in a coffee shop.
If I’m in my hometown Denver, I usually head to Aviano, where they sell the most delicious single-origin coffees and play good music. And where I can people-watch the hustle and bustle of the morning crowd.
If I’m out of town, I try to find a place that has amazing coffee and a similar writing atmosphere.
If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a certified coffee snob.
In those coffee shops, it’s not uncommon that observations of my fellow humans lead to a new writing idea.
Yesterday was one of those days.
Among the conversation noise coming at me from every direction, I overheard a man at the table next to me lament how a Black woman got promoted over him at work.
“She stole my job,” was how he phrased it.
I recognized this familiar phrase and sat with it.
It’s the response I’ve heard dozens of times over the years anytime a company tries to diversify their workforce and leadership ranks.
The “may the best man win” crowd was conveniently silent over the many years Black people and women of all colors…
