When You Want To Call Your Boss an Uncle Tom
|
Posted By: Carmen Colon on October 08, 2008 You try to bust your butt to make a living and then you fall under the supervision of so-called black man out trying to prove a point. You see I’ve spent the last two decades being involved in projects far and wide during my time here at National Grid. It’s seen some horrific times since its changed hands. When it was Brooklyn Union I remember being a part of a group of new employees being lead and guided through the way of life within the company. There were two avenues you could go down, the Union Road and the Management Trainee road. Since I only had my Associates in Mechanical Engineering Technology, the only road open was the Union road. My dad being a cop I figured this was the way to go, you work hard, you do right and you get acknowledged, recognized, appreciated and promoted. OK, stop laughing, I was 24 years old, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Seventeen years later and I find myself, self taught, educated in more than just my job, with an arsenal of experiences and expertise that is valuable on the market and nothing from this organization to show for it. Other companies treat their workers with respect yet not here. You see, where I am, the manager is a black man who racked up degrees but no sense. A black man whose pride gets in the way of doing what’s right. A black man who wants to time your work with a stopwatch and wants to clock how long it takes you to go to the bathroom or eat and if your break goes beyond the fifteen minutes - look out. What is so ironic and sad is that National Grid (and legacy KeySpan) won a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s “Corporate Equality Survey”. Who took this survey and if I and a number of my colleagues have EEOC complaints and grievances on the books then how can this backward place get 100%? If any employee who works here feel that this company is not treating them fairly then how could they get 100%? Truth is for some areas in this utility equality has never moved beyond 1950. This antiquated engineering mamnager in this department is one of those lost in the McCarthy era. It has been oppressive and bigoted in its behavioral management style since I entered it in 1992. Now, I have to deal with a Caucasian Manager that makes the Black Manager crack the whip. We have to ask permission to do just about everything. I returned last week after having almost been driven to the brink by their ignorance and sexism to find that the internet access I had for all of these 17 years will no longer be available to me. When did we become second class citizens where all roads to the outside are forbidden? There is a feeling of despair that permeates through this area and instead of taking all of these veterans, because we’re all old timers with 15 years plus for each of us, and recognizing our institutional memory and putting us to real work, we are pushed around like slaves, yes slaves, where music and cell phones are not allowed, where if you’re late 15 minutes you’re docked or suspended depending on the manager’s mood. To me the biggest infraction of all is that the Director, a Caucasian female I have as yet to meet since her arrival two years ago, is in another state with a whole other mindset and culture (I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!) and she’s never set foot at a meeting to set it all straight, to be the leaders she is supposed to be, to see what conflict resolutions and negotiations can be made can be done to make all of the employees happy. CSR my **&^(*%)!! That’s “Corporate Social Responsibility”, the latest buzz words to imply that while corporations are buckling tight, they are doing it with consideration for the employees’ needs. It’s lies so that they can give each other awards and pats on the back so that they can sleep at night. For us workers, us union people, it means we’re lucky if we get a manager who has any idea of what our functions are, who treat us as equals and when they are of the same color as us, they do not necessarily know or care to know. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Carmen Colon
From Brookyln, NY New York Inst of Tech class of 1992 Member Since July 2008 |
Comments
 |
You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. Daddy says to crucify the flesh, so wanting to call your boss or associates anything of a negative report, without first knowing first hand what that person is going through at any given moment, would be false witnessing and foolish. You, yourself, can only change you, yourself. You can put up an argument, based on facts, to accomplish a goal and make needed changes, or rally your coworkers to tackle the problems together. Negativity only breeds negative results. It is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Stay possitive and search for/pray for solutions. Ignorance is not stupidity, though they be twins. It is a lack of knowledge and understanding, therefore teach them. Hope this shines a light. Be blessed.
Friday, October 10th 2008 at 12:12PM |
 |
Sounds like good old fashioned s*xual harrassment..and you are seen as a troublemaker..if you have been there that long and you are not receiving the rewards due. Good luck. Hopefully things will change soon.
Saturday, October 11th 2008 at 9:48PM |
More From This Author
Latest Blogs
 |
Get that Oil change then go save that body Donate Blood Jiffy Lube was our mechanic of choice
Versiti is our Blood Bank of choice
Glow Go Geugh LSUSports.net
...more
How May I Help You NC • 158 Views • April 21st, 2026 |
 |
R&B Songwriter/Actor CHRISTIAN KEYES Is Back With Hot New Single "Your Love Feels Like Home"@CHRISTIANKEYES #CHRISTIANKEYES
IG@ChristianKeyes
YouTube@ActorChristianKeyes
FB@ActorChristianKeyes
After having all three songs from his recent album, on the Billboard top 30 R&B chart, CHRIST ...more
LaMarr Blackmon • 277 Views • April 20th, 2026 |
 |
JUNIQUES GOSPEL MUSICAL REVIEW MOVEMENTJUNIQUES GOSPEL MUSICAL REVIEW MICRO‑BUSINESS EMPOWERMENT CREED
For Builders. For Dreamers. For Doers. For the Movement.
I believe my business has value.
I believe my work has purpose.
...more
rickey johnson • 321 Views • April 18th, 2026 |
 |
How the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Came to BeTo understand the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, you have to see the bigger picture of Hyundai's overall strategy. When Hyundai first entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the modest Excel, it was considered ...more
Randi Payton • 238 Views • April 16th, 2026 |
 |
Houston TX Wordsmith RICHIE MIKE Is Back With Hot New Single "Block Getting Hot"@RICHIEMIKE #RICHIEMIKE
YouTube@RICHIEMIKE
FB@RICHIEMIKE
IG@RICHIEMIKE
Video For Single
"Block Getting Hot" Below.
https://youtu.be/Co-vGLqNECM?si=_YG5-Dj-9kxjkx4Z
https://www.foxfirema ...more
LaMarr Blackmon • 653 Views • April 15th, 2026 |
Popular Blogs
 |
Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Join Brother Marcus and the cast and the crew of the Brother Marcus Show live this Sunday evening on February 1, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. for another hot topic in our community! “Divorce in America in 2009 ...more
Brother Marcus! • 70,943,337 Views • January 27th, 2009 |
 |
VISINE ALERT!!!Seemingly innocent medication such as Visine eyedrops are used by people to concoct a mixture with similar effects as a date-rape drug.
When mixed with alcohol and taken orally, the eyedrops can l ...more
Siebra Muhammad • 119,300 Views • May 23rd, 2009 |
 |
"Chain Hang Low" check out the real meaning of the Lyrics!Recently there is a new artist out of Saint Louis that goes by the name JIBBS. Jibbs debut single "Chain hang low" has a history that most people are not aware of. The particular nursery rhyme that th ...more
Tyhesha Judge-Fogle • 77,381 Views • November 9th, 2006 |
 |
HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing CardsVendor: Charles Jones
Item Price: $20.00
Price Includes Shipping: Yes - Shipping Included
Item Description:
Pantheon Series - Divine 9 - Premium Playing Cards (choose Gold Series or Silve ...more
How May I Help You NC • 62,538 Views • December 2nd, 2018 |
