6
Authenticity in the Workplace
An African American Perspective
PATRICIA FAISON HEWLIN and ANNA-MARIA BROOMES
The people I wanted to work with left, and those who stayed are not minority friendly. As a minority, I feel that they don’t want me there. It is so obvious. The head partner doesn’t even speak to me. I try to downplay my cultural differences and laugh at their stupid jokes. I play the game and let them think I believe in the firm’s goals.
—Hewlin, 2009, p. 732
The foregoing quote is from an African American male lawyer who is sharing his experience of working in a firm that does not value diversity. He “plays the game” by suppressing personal views and conveying alignment with the goals of the firm, a behavior termed “creating ...
