waste of my damn time

I don't do too many seminars, and lunch time information sessions anymore. I did some last semester, even some that I probably should not go to. But today, I thought I would do one on retaining and hiring minority associates at a major regional firm.

I figure, I'll let the convo flow, and I'll add in my input. I always got shit to say on minority issues and concerns. The two representatives from the law firm was about 20 minutes late, which wasn't cool. When they (one white dude, and one Black lady) walked in, they commented that they had problems getting or finding a cab, I was close to telling them, damn, y'all should have let T (white dude) get the cab, don't you know any better, in a joking manner. But I figured M (Black lady) would find it offensive, and the rest of the group wouldn't get it. I mean what made them think a Black woman can get a cab, even in our gentile, egalatarian city. I always think of how my friend Donna had trouble getting cabs in DC, and Donna can be classified as "lite skinned." Shit, they should have used public transportation.

My group was active in the conversation, and I said a few things, but I thought the dialogue was getting mad pointless, 'cos, they ain't hiring anybody, and we're all 1L's. Like they're going to remember us. And I'm sitting there, thinking when the hell do we get to have input, or when will these two personnel people ask us about how to retain or hire minority candidates. It was like waiting for my "A" or waiting for a woman to hit on me (not hit me, hit on me); the time never came. All they talked about was how they were better than other firms, and they are really pushing for more diversity, and really look high and low for "tokens" (South Park), eses, and FOBs. Cool, I'm with you, but what the fuck you want, a cookie? how about a Famous Amos cookie?

Then they talked about working for a big firm, and how some people with lower GPAs do land phat ass jobs, and its all about networking. Ok, tell me something I don't already know. But they added as a caveat that some firms do have snobbish factor with GPAs, and places we graduated from, again, wtf, tell me something we don't know. I added, "so I guess we gotta have everything, huh." M laughed, and then the two of them went off talking about how it is not about the money, and we should take all factors into account. And I asked her, bluntly, did the money help, though? (since she worked at a big Seattle firm when she got out of Ann Arbor), and she paused, and said, "......Yes, it allowed me to do what I wanted to do." I think she was initially taken aback by my bluntness, but I was sick of the bullshit, and wanted to cut right to it. She tried to defend herself by talking about student loans, and that the most ideal way was to go "in house" right after graduation (she did after 3 years at firm, and some luxury cars-she said).

Later she was really warm to me, and told me to e-mail her for her card (I got T's card, but M ran out), I think she respected the fact that I put the stop to all the bullshit.

I'm practically done semi-networking here. I just gotta push my home region's connections to the hilt.

(shaking my head)

again could've done more, but I don't think I can do more than 3 to 4 1/2 each day.

still haven't watched the White Rapper Show.