Discrimination

Negative life experiences mark you for life! I tend to remember the negative ones than the good ones. Have you ever been stereotyped in any way? I searched for my first job after graduating from high school applying for many respectful companies, and received a phone call for an interview appointment. After trying on my entire professional wardrobe and deciding for the perfect outfit, I punctually attended the interview where I got hired, but left disappointed. Finally after many interviews, I was hired to work for a prestigious corporation which I dedicated myself to that employer for many years. My new manager was like a vulture that was not satisfied until she got rid of my carcass. I never expected to be discriminated against by a new family member. He expressed his anger about my ethnicity. Some bad memories will stay with you forever.

I had just turned eighteen going to my first interview at Circuit City in San Bernardino, California. An older man in his late sixties was the manager of the warehouse. He happened to be the one who was conducting the interview. He asked me are you going to be able to carry a big television set to a customer’s car. Since it was my first interview, of course I replied yes. He brought his chair closer and said, “After an eight hour shift you are going to be sore in your legs”. After his remark he then rubbed my legs with his hands and continued talking. He then went on to say” sometimes you are going to get bruised from your chest”. Then in a quick moment his hands were on my chest. I rolled down my eyes and automatically he moved back. Soon after he handed me a sheet of paper to see my schedule letting me know that I had gotten the job. I felt so strange after the situation but I never returned. However he continued to call my home and left messages for me to call him. I never returned that call and soon I received a card saying “thank you for applying at Circuit City in San Bernardino”. I continued the search of my first job.

My new retail manager was looking for a schedule in our retail office at that time next to the gift shop. She asked me if I had seen it since I was the retail supervisor. I had replied to her that I had not. The longer it took for her to find it, the more frustrated she got. She got so mad that she put her hands around my neck and began to shake me. As she turned around to look, she then found what she wanted. However she never let go of my neck while beginning to laugh hysterically. I had to physically remove her hands from my neck meanwhile telling her to let go for several minutes. As she released her hands from my neck she quickly left the office where we were. I went to talk with the director of human resources about what had just occurred. My manager admitted what she had done to me. Not much later in time after this situation happened, I was brought the human resources again. This was put together by my manager and I was informed that I was no longer an employee of the company. Now that I think about that was how I looked at after eight long years of loyal employment with Agua Caliente Casino.

After several years of not seeing my mother- in-law we went to visit. We had not ever met her new husband. While we were there he seemed to be extremely nice until one moment came about. He was making carne asada and some chicken. I was talking with my daughters in Spanish and he over heard me. As he walked back into the house he made a comment to me “no Spanish in Texas”. I felt out of place and sank to the bottom of the seat. Even though I was with my husband and children it did not take that awful feeling that was in my stomach.

I have always heard stories of things like these but never experienced them for myself until now. Through these negative experiences I have learned to be a stronger person. I only hope that my daughters learn from my examples. Life has many forks in the road and each of us takes the one that we feel is right. Remembering what has occurred in the past for the future forks in my road will be my success.