“I was outspoken about racism and the lack of accountability in an internal forum.”

(IRC Staff Experience)

I am a white woman. I was outspoken about racism and the lack of accountability in an internal forum. The next day I was called in for a one-on-one with a senior manager (white, male, not my manager). He said my words were not appreciated by some people, that my words made them sad, that they didn’t “land well.” I asked if he could be more specific and he declined to protect the identities of the people who expressed them. He alluded that these people included people of color who said that they disagree with my views. All the while I am only a junior member of staff, a temporary employee, so the power dynamic here was very off-putting. I never claimed to speak for anyone else, my opinions are my own.