THANK YOU FOR THIS POWERFUL PIECE ("RACE & GENDER,"
FEBRUARY 2008) and for interviewing Anucha Browne Sanders. In corporate
America, we often witness firsthand disparate and even hostile treatment
of our own people, yet we keep silent. Many people don't realize
how difficult it was for Ms. Browne Sanders to even come forward with
her allegations.
Having gone through a similar legal battle against a former
employer, I learned that not only is it a lonely battle but my fellow
African Americans unleashed the most hostility against me for speaking
out. I found this very disheartening and confusing as well. Did they not
realize that if it were not me, it could have been one of their
daughters, sisters, mothers, or aunts who was the subject of this
discrimination?
Why must those of us who speak out against injustices be referred
to as the b-word or a sellout and an Uncle Tom? I hope this article
resonates with the many who read it and that they will be more willing
to lend support when their colleagues are being persecuted in the
workplace, instead of acting as attack dogs.
Andrea Payne
Wheatley Heights, NY
COPYRIGHT 2008 Earl G. Graves Publishing Co.,
Inc. Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Copyright 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights
reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.
NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.