[seek3r]

Although the language she used in the email may not be what’s expected by a manager, I choose to be sympathetic.

Obviously, this is a person which is very passionate about her research. She’s also a Black woman; given US history, there’s a probability that she was discriminated against during her life — maybe, multiple times. If not her, maybe some of her relatives were. Sure, this is hypothetical and does not excuse her attitude — but try to put yourself in her shoes.

It’s easy for us to reason about it, and think about how we would have dealt with it differently. Maybe she was in a bad place, or felt that she was being discriminated against.

She’s also a human being like me and you so — yes — maybe it’s not about racism and discrimination. Maybe she’s just entitled.

Either way, Google’s HR should’ve done better. It’s easy to let anger or exasperation get the hang of you. They should’ve scheduled a call to discuss everything calmly.