Public forum addresses race and professionalism

Male Initiative Program: Men Encouraging New Ways held an open forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the University Center Indian Room for members of the public to discuss major challenges that African-Americans may face in their careers.

A group of about 20 Southeast Missouri State University students, both black and white, attended the discussion.

Black students Allen Rice and Jimmy Miller, along with graduate student Robert White and orientation & career development specialist Steven Taylor, facilitated the event and brought their own personal experiences to the discussion.

Rice, who interned with MetLife for two months, said his coworkers were intentionally slowing the pace of his workload.

"My coworkers were five to seven years older than me, so I feel like age was a factor," Rice said. "If it had been a real job and not just a short-term internship I would have had to take the issue to human resources."

Though Miller did not go into great detail about his personal experience, he gave a brief account of when he was arrested, in his opinion, based solely on his skin color.

One evening while he was driving in a neighborhood with a bad reputation, he was pulled over and arrested. He said when his case was reviewed in court the judge said he could not believe that Miller was arrested and refunded Miller his bail money.

These stories set the tone for the discussions to follow.

During a discussion on unprofessionalism in the workplace, a young female told a story about her experience interning with the Missouri Social Services Children's Division. She said people spoke about clients behind their backs and used foul language in the workplace. She said it was so bad there that not even 30 minutes after clocking in for the first time she witnessed a supervisor reprimanding staff for bad behavior.

Discussion in the forum did not just cover unprofessionalism or low expectations due to race, but also issues such as gender inequality in the workplace. Studies show that women are becoming the majority in the professional environment and this is leading to new difficulties. An older woman who attended the forum said that having female coworkers is a double-edged sword.

"You always have the one girl who takes a story you tell them, walks down the hall and changes it," she said. " You have the gossiper. And you also have the women who personally attack coworkers simply because she doesn't like them."

Near the end of the forum the tone shifted toward solutions. Rice felt that men are disengaged and would rather go to the gym or hang out with friends while women push themselves to attend work and class. He believed this led to many of the struggles that men face in the work environment and the success of women in the same environment.

Several people felt that higher education along with communication skills could help solve a lot of societal problems.

"As men, we are taught to go to work rather than get an education," one young man pointed out.

The entire room seemed to reach the consensus that social media can be a hindrance to moving forward as a professional. White said social media is a great tool if we know how to use it, but it is abused. Many employers and educators are viewing social media accounts before deciding to accept a person and with that comes a new need for responsibility online.

By the end of the forum, everyone - black and white, male and female - seemed to be more open to one another than when they first walked in the room. Problems had been aired, solutions had been considered and everyone was more comfortable after having their voice heard.

Taylor encourages young men and women to attend these types of events.

"All students no matter what color or gender, will have a positive experience," Taylor said. "Most importantly, understand that these discussions impact all races and genders."