The Door Was Locked, Not the Talent: My Journey from Janitor to Systems Tech
- Read more about The Door Was Locked, Not the Talent: My Journey from Janitor to Systems Tech
- Sysop's Blog
- Log in or register to post comments
In February 1973, I was hired by the telephone company as a janitor. I was told plainly that people like me weren't hired for "technical" roles like Telephone Installer. At the time, that wasn't just a company policy; it was a systemic reality.
But 1973 was also the year of the landmark AT&T Consent Decree. After years of federal investigation into discriminatory hiring practices, the company agreed to stop blocking minorities and women from advancing. By November of that year, the "technical" door finally cracked open, and I was offered a transfer to become a Telephone Installer.
Was I a "DEI Hire"?
Today, people use terms like "Affirmative Action" or "DEI" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) to imply that someone was a "charity hire" or "unqualified." They suggest that the position was "given" to us.
My career tells a different story.