How was it?
I've heard varying stories. Sometimes, great. Sometimes, its the hood. I worked in a huge multi billion dollar company where a few of our departments were black run with black managers (me being one of them) and a fair amount of black employees. It was a fantastic experience. Surprisingly, no 'black crab in a barrel' syndrome. We looked out and promoted each other. Other blacks in other areas looked out and we reciprocated. One of us eventually made it to SVP, big money, etc and we helped him the whole time. We handled things internally like Gs.
My other experience was working part time at an almost all black clothing department while doing an internship in DC, in my senior year. The brother who ran it, was out for himself, threw people under the bus. Some of the people were cool, but some weren't. I was never late, never gave problems, never called in sick. I was in my cousins wedding and needed to take off a Saturday and he said "That's our busy days' The homies in the department said 'F*ck it bruh, call in sick'. I don't do the fake sick thing but when I was leaving, I had a talk with him. He said 'You were a good worker man, hate losing you'. I told him with all due respect, I wouldn't work for him again. I told him you take care of the good people. Others were late, calling in sick, and I asked for one day for a family wedding and you couldn't even do me that one solid. I could have called in sick. He was like dang, you right, my bad.
I learned what not to do when I eventually got into management and that is take care of your ridaz. The squeaky wheels gonna always want oil and hookups but you don't want to lose the good ones by treating them bad.
I also had another job where the boss left and we had to run ourselves till we got a new person. It wasn't a big area, 6 of us, 4 blacks, 1 white, 1 Latino but we all worked well. We covered all our bases and looked out, no one leeching. We didn't need a manager and one of the OGs we selected to go to meetings about the departments. Another good experience.
But my friends have had some crazy stories. I think it depends on the type of job. A sista who worked at a black law firm had a great experience. Also a good friend who worked in the prosecutor's office in Long Beach, CA. Mostly black and latino said it was good. But homies kids who worked at Walmart said it was like the street.
I've heard varying stories. Sometimes, great. Sometimes, its the hood. I worked in a huge multi billion dollar company where a few of our departments were black run with black managers (me being one of them) and a fair amount of black employees. It was a fantastic experience. Surprisingly, no 'black crab in a barrel' syndrome. We looked out and promoted each other. Other blacks in other areas looked out and we reciprocated. One of us eventually made it to SVP, big money, etc and we helped him the whole time. We handled things internally like Gs.
My other experience was working part time at an almost all black clothing department while doing an internship in DC, in my senior year. The brother who ran it, was out for himself, threw people under the bus. Some of the people were cool, but some weren't. I was never late, never gave problems, never called in sick. I was in my cousins wedding and needed to take off a Saturday and he said "That's our busy days' The homies in the department said 'F*ck it bruh, call in sick'. I don't do the fake sick thing but when I was leaving, I had a talk with him. He said 'You were a good worker man, hate losing you'. I told him with all due respect, I wouldn't work for him again. I told him you take care of the good people. Others were late, calling in sick, and I asked for one day for a family wedding and you couldn't even do me that one solid. I could have called in sick. He was like dang, you right, my bad.
I learned what not to do when I eventually got into management and that is take care of your ridaz. The squeaky wheels gonna always want oil and hookups but you don't want to lose the good ones by treating them bad.
I also had another job where the boss left and we had to run ourselves till we got a new person. It wasn't a big area, 6 of us, 4 blacks, 1 white, 1 Latino but we all worked well. We covered all our bases and looked out, no one leeching. We didn't need a manager and one of the OGs we selected to go to meetings about the departments. Another good experience.
But my friends have had some crazy stories. I think it depends on the type of job. A sista who worked at a black law firm had a great experience. Also a good friend who worked in the prosecutor's office in Long Beach, CA. Mostly black and latino said it was good. But homies kids who worked at Walmart said it was like the street.