This Office Has Black, White, And Increasingly Deep Shades Of Red
We have two workers that, for soon-to-be-obvious reasons, I will refer to as Black coworker and White coworker. They are two mid-level creatives on our marketing team. They sit one desk apart, work on the same projects, and turn in equally strong work. But somehow, their manager never sees it that way.
When [White Coworker], (smart but fresh from college and still learning the basics) submits something, the manager calls it “smart, fresh, intuitive.”
When [Black Coworker], (five years in the industry, graduated from a prestigious college) submits something, the manager sighs and asks if he’s “sure this is your best.”
It’s not subtle.
I work directly with both of them (although I have another manager), so I have a front row seat to what happens next.
One afternoon, after yet another round of lukewarm feedback on [Black Coworker]’s campaign while [White Coworker] gets praised, they’ve had enough.
Black Coworker: “You ever notice he doesn’t even read my stuff before dismissing it?”
White Coworker: “Yeah. It always felt off, but I knew something was up last week when I turned in a rushed draft and he still gave it a glowing review when you worked all weekend on yours!”
So, they decide to test it.
Next campaign cycle, they swap. [Black Coworker] writes the edgy and accomplished campaign concept. [White Coworker] puts together a basic placeholder idea. Both submit under their own names, except that the work is reversed.
The manager calls a meeting. He is nodding at [White Coworker]’s folder.
Manager: “Now this is what I’m talking about. Clean, focused, smart language. Really impressed.”
He flips to [Black Coworker]’s folder:
Manager: *Sighing.* “This one’s… muddled. Feels rushed. Not quite there.”
There’s a pause and then [White Coworker] says:
White Coworker: “Oh, sorry, that one’s mine. We must have accidentally swapped folders before the meeting.”
The manager just blinks, while [Black Coworker] stays quiet, just watching.
White Coworker: “So, you said mine was ‘not quite there’? I did this same level of work last week, and you called it ‘really impressive’.”
Manager: “Well, I must’ve misread it. Or maybe the formatting threw me.”
Black Coworker: “Interesting how the formatting only throws you when my name’s on it.”
The manager stammers something about “tone” and “instinct,” but no one’s buying it. The room’s silent except for the clicking of someone taking notes on their laptop.
By the end of the day, [Manager] is called into HR. A week later, his office is empty. [Black Coworker] walks past it, sipping coffee, and mutters to [White Coworker]:
Black Coworker: “Finally gave feedback that stuck.”
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