Diversity Diaries: Mark Russell

By Mark Russell
Metropolitan editor, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland

04.05.02

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This is something I heard from a lawyer who worked at an East Coast publishing company. It is relevant across fields and in the newsroom.

An African-American lawyer, just out of a law school, was working at a big company and was having trouble keeping up with the workload. His superiors were riding him pretty hard and questioning his ability to do the work. An older black lawyer saw this play out over several days and pulled aside the white boss of that division. In private, he asked the man if he had ever been new at something — golf, playing cards or maybe even a job. The man nodded his head and looked puzzled about where the conversation was headed.

The older black lawyer paused for effect and then looked his colleague in the eyes and said: "This promising young lawyer is new at his job, and he needs you to help him succeed — the same way others helped you succeed at nearly everything you are now good at."

The white lawyer dropped his head and walked away.

The young black lawyer became a valuable contributor to the team and later left to become a corporate attorney in the telecommunications field.

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