I have a family. My daughter is starting college next year. This job, it's everything. I made a mistake, a terrible mistake, but please give me another chance. Diane looked at the woman begging before her.
She felt no triumph, no satisfaction. Just sad recognition of a pattern that repeated itself endlessly across corporate America. Jennifer, sit down. The flight attendant sank into the seat across from Diane. Do you know what you saw when you looked at me this morning?
Diane asked quietly. Jennifer shook her head, still crying. You saw a black woman, not a CEO, not an executive, not someone who could possibly own a $65 million aircraft. You saw skin color and everything else became impossible in your mind. That's the definition of racism.
But I didn't mean it that way, Jennifer protested. I wasn't thinking about race. I just thought. She trailed off, realizing the trap she'd walked into. Diane leaned forward.
You just thought what? That a black woman couldn't be standing at the door of an expensive private jet unless she was lost. Unless she was trying to get somewhere she didn't belong. That's exactly what racial bias looks like. It's not conscious.
It's automatic. And that's what makes it so damaging. Jennifer's sobs intensified. Please, Miss Cooper. I need this job.
I'll do anything. I'll take sensitivity training. I'll apologize publicly. Just please don't fire me. Captain Richards emerged from the cockpit, his face grave.
Ms. Cooper, I received your email. I want you to know that I take full responsibility for the crew's behavior. If you're going to terminate anyone, terminate me. Jennifer and Amy and co-pilot Stevens don't deserve to lose their jobs over my failure to properly brief the crew.
Diane studied him. What failure was that, Captain? Richard straightened. I should have shown the crew your photograph, provided background on you and your company. I should have made sure everyone understood who the owner of this aircraft was.
That's my job as captain, and I failed. Why didn't you do those things? Diane asked. The question hung between them. Richards opened his mouth, closed it, struggled.