The article addresses the unique discomfort an African American employee feels in a predominantly white office environment, where they also contend with a dog-friendly culture that makes them uneasy. The worker grapples with wanting to conform to peers' expectations while feeling increasingly alienated. The column suggests reflecting on one's comfort levels and the importance of asserting boundaries in both race and personal preferences, especially in a setting with little diversity and a significant power dynamic.
'I felt both like I stand out among my (white) professional peers by being Black, while at the same time feeling invisible to them as a human.'
'My experience in predominantly white environments often meant feeling the need to conform to the preferences of my colleagues, even when they made me uncomfortable.'
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