Date: August 03, 2008
To: Christine, Jocelyn - Human Resources
Dear Madam/s,
I am a software developer (Associate) in the Market Risk Technology BAU VARS group in Houston. My manager’s name is Gregory R Dillard. It is relevant to mention the fact that I am the only employee of Indian origin following Hindu way of life reporting to him currently ( Later, I corrected and told HR there is another but is on medical leave )
Following are the incidents of prejudice/discrimination/racism that I have endured during my tenure at JP Morgan Chase so far.
1. I joined the firm on August 30th 2006. Though I was reporting to Lee Yuan, the technical manager in NY, Greg was my people manager here in Houston. It was about a week after my join date when the following happened. One morning Greg said - let's go and have some coffee. He called another person, Sadath Mohammed, a contractor who had joined the PCM group 2 weeks before me, also to accompany us. We three walked to the nearest Starbucks shop. With coffee in hand we sat down for small talk. I have to note that this was the first informal socializing event with my manager. The very first question he asks both of us is – “Now, tell me why are some Indians black and some white?” I was flabbergasted! I couldn’t believe what I heard. All thoughts flew by in my mind. Why was my manager focused on color? How can he be so wrong? Why or how this topic even remotely related to work especially a new hire like me? Have we known each other for significant amount of time for him to take liberty to pop this sensitive topic in this manner? Is this the way of getting to know each other? etc., Sadath was either fumbling for words or too stunned to say anything.
Meanwhile I regained my composure and tried to explain him to the best of my knowledge - that Indians are neither White nor Black but come in all shades of Brown. Same with other races, like the Chinese, who belong to the Mongoloid race, they are not really yellow but shades of Yellow. From a western or “white” reference point of view (so called “Eurocentrism”) rest of the world they believed they explored became colored and hence all these words now exist. If you gaze in reverse it’s similar to whites being not really White but shades of Pink or Red. In the Indian context, there are combination of factors. Majority of the population spend most of their time outdoors, about 70% of the population sustains on agriculture and it is done manually not mechanized. So the more time you spend in the equatorial hot sun the more a brown skin can get black, the less you do it gets fairer or pinkish. India is extremely diverse country and there are several ethnicities and each have a shade to begin with which will get morphed over time. I was very fair when I was in my preteens – used to be called as “kencha” (meaning Red in Kannada language) though I have begun getting more brown since then. And I paused.
He did not utter a single word and then he got up dismissively without any sign of acknowledgement. My effort at dialog did not elicit any response. We too got up and walked back, much in silence.
2. Last year on 7/5/2007, another incident happened. Greg without any introduction or greeting suddenly sends a web link over Sametime. Though it was distracting from my work I looked up on that link and it talked about the plight of Hindu widows in India. Then I got further distracted and disturbed. Reading few lines I could make out that the report was blatantly prejudiced and was representative of a minority of widows. In that regard I replied saying so. It showed one of the most pluralistic, tolerant and inclusive faiths of the world in a poor light. Reports like this perpetuate falsehoods. It does great harm to diversity in workplace. I further said western media, particularly CNN, has its own bias and it can publish any one sided report to suit its pre-existing bias. Sometimes they are plain ignorant. I gave a link to substantiate my position. It’s important to note the fact that he never sent me any other web link on any other topic of interest except for this either over Sametime or in email before or after this. So why this particular one and the only one? I was beginning to have some doubts about his prejudices. Again there was not much of a dialog. Second time it was hit and run. Please refer to the attached Sametime chat transcript
3. After I joined the firm and started interacting with VARS colleagues in New York, I referred to one of them as Wenyun when I was talking to Greg. His actual name is Wenyun X Sun and I went by first name as is the norm. Greg corrected me saying that he likes to be called as “Sunny”. I stood corrected and that’s how we all call him. I am highlighting this as an example and evidence to the fact that unless someone wants to be called something else – nickname or otherwise - no one has the right to distort a name. And Greg was aware of that. People always try their best to say a name and if they can’t pronounce it or say it correctly they seek how to say the same from the person who wants to be addressed. Not everyone likes to anglicize a name either. A name is part of ones identity. And that needs to be respected. That said, recently in a Sametime chat Greg addressed me as "plad". A little confused I looked back (he sits 2 cubicles behind me). He said – “Is that ok?” I said – “What? You mean my name” and he nodded “Yes”. Being busy in the midst of working on two projects (70hrs/wk, 9 weeks consecutively) I did not have the time nor the inclination to convey my feeling and I did not have to since he knows better. But why did he not apply the same logic I wondered. He did this couple of times after that. I am attaching some chat copies below for your perusal.
4. Again about names - I have heard Greg saying on the phone some non-western names and then “whatever” after saying the name if he can’t get the name right. It seems harmless but it happens so often that it also seems intentional. Another thing – if he finds a non-western common last name – he wonders whether the people are related – is that his/her spouse is the question. He would not do that for a western name. Again seems innocuous but now I don’t know anymore.
5. I heard from one Cognizant member of our team that Greg has taken exception to a quote that goes with my signature. You can see that at the end of my email below. I believe it is harmless and in no way reflects negatively. Rather it helps conservation of Earth’s resources and is just pro-environment. Nothing more to it. And I put it after seeing our firm’s policy of exercising caution before printing an email, the little green tree. And if management higher up asks me to remove it for a reason I will comply with it.
6. I heard from the same Cognizant member that he overheard Greg talking to someone on his cell phone – “Indians have to be on tight leash”. He did not hear the full conversation and does not know the exact context this was spoken but I felt that it was a disparaging remark most probably directed at the larger Cognizant team that is now part of VARS group or similar offshore vendor group either in Houston or NY or elsewhere. Since I am an Indian I am getting included in that remark.
For the last two above cases I do not have direct evidence, it happened outside work place, so I have stated as I heard it.
I have been in the United States for more than 10 years. Apart from working with diverse group of people within India I have worked in Singapore and Malaysia before coming to the US. I have always done my best not only to fit in a diverse workplace, but going a step further, to contribute to mutual understanding of cultures since we operate in a global workplace. During my earlier stint with IBM Global Services I had corrected an executive’s misunderstanding of Caste System when he said in a town hall speech that “there is no caste system here in US”. Attached are the emails pertaining to that topic. I am providing this as a token of my tolerance, my pro-active ethic to work even with those who hold opinions that are harmful to a diverse workplace, with a hope that with dialog anything can be resolved.
Unfortunately my experience with Greg has been hopeless. His behavior does not reflect the core values of our firm, definitely unbecoming of a VP. I sincerely hoped he would improve for the better over time but it has not happened. Since late last year he is also my direct manager. Despite my best efforts at my job duties I believe it has cast a shadow and influenced his opinions about my performance. Recently in mid-year review comments he has distorted, exaggerated and obfuscated facts. Despite setting me up for failure in many ways I have done extremely well considering the adverse circumstances, In fact I was expecting “Exceeds Expectations” rating. I have not missed a single delivery of work item so far. I am writing a separate rebuttal about this to my management and will copy you when I am done. In short, I will not be able to continue to work and perform my best in this environment any further. I am looking forward to your help and immediate corrective action in this regard. If you have any questions or need further clarifications please contact me at the earliest. Thank you.
With best regards,
BrownMan
Market Risk Technology BAU VaR
"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed" - Mahatma Gandhi
Attachments/Evidence/Other:
One Sametime transcript attached for Incident 2
Three Sametime transcripts attached for Incident 3.
IBM incident and dialog
