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My Professor was a Con-Woman with a False Identity and No One Knew — the Power of “Proximity to Whiteness” in the Corporate Setting
When I was younger, I had a professor. She was a black woman. She had a very professional presentation. She also had the whole, “black woman in corporate that understands proximity to whiteness is a necessity for advancement” look to a tee. She was very thin. She only wore light or dark gray, taupe, white, or black. I paid attention. She wore neutral skin-toned make-up, no lipstick. Her glasses were professional, understated — thin gold frame, and small pearl earrings — sometimes a thin pearl bracelet, and knee-length skirts, black stockings, and a basic black pump. She was never without a cheap, bone straight, synthetic black wig in a bob cut. Sometimes it had a single auburn highlight, sometimes she wore it with a headband with a small knotted bow.
This was her daily uniform.
She was quiet and only seemed to perk up when the head administrators, all white men, were on the floor. She would change her voice and exaggerate her diction and pronunciation. It was unusual. They seemed to really like her. If you mentioned her to them, they told you how lucky they were to have a talent like Pam McCormick*. She was “one of the best”. Well, let me tell you all something, I didn’t like Pam McCormick. I didn’t…
