Wait them out. Was he serious?
“Well, that might work. Ellice, what do you think?” Nate said.
I was still bristling from Max’s thug comment, but I managed to take a deep breath before speaking. “The protesters have every right to be in front of the building. They have been peaceful and there is no need for security or law enforcement to get involved. My recommendation is that we look at those protests within the larger picture of what’s happening at Houghton. Our numbers for minority hiring and promotions do not look stellar.” I heard the sigh again—Max. I ignored him and powered forward. “My advice is that we get in front of this thing and negotiate an amicable settlement on the EEOC charges. We currently have six discrimination claims that the EEOC is actively investigating. From the way the charges are written, we believe the complainants have lawyers. I think we can expect a lawsuit any day now. Things will only get worse if we get a lawsuit and continue to ignore the protesters. Perhaps we should think about engaging with them. Find out what they’re looking for and what it might take to make them use their time in other ways.”
“Well, that’s just ludicrous!” Max’s twang thrummed across the room. “Now why would we negotiate with those people. They’re troublemakers. That’s all. And I for one don’t think engaging troublemakers will lead to anything positive.”
I didn’t just hit a nerve with Max—I split it open. He opened one with me, too. What the hell? I was one of those people. My face went hot. As pissed as I was, I knew I would have to be the “adult” in the room. It was up to me to diffuse the situation if I didn’t want to be labeled the angry Black woman. Another deep breath. “Max, I think you’re missing the larger picture here. Our track record for hiring and promotion is what brings the protesters out every day.”
“Look, I’m sure you mean well, but you’re way off base here. Those people are trying to take Houghton’s good reputation hostage. And we won’t negotiate with kidnappers.”
I wanted to reach across the table and slap that poorly executed comb-over off his head. But I resisted the urge. “Until we show communities of color that we are serious about being inclusive and making Houghton look like what the real world looks like, you can expect protests for a very long time, along with the lawsuits that will come as a result.”
Max shook his head before he leaned in toward Nate and pointed his finger at me. “You see, this kind of thinking. This is what I mean.”
“Excuse me?” I said.
“I just mean . . . I think Michael would have taken a different approach.”
“Well, Michael’s not here. I’m the general counsel and my advice is that you take a more open-minded approach on issues of diversity and inclusion.”
Max glowered at me before he turned to Nate. “Nate?”
We all turned to Nate, who stared out the window without a word.
Jonathan cleared his throat. “It’s certainly something to think about. Don’t you agree, Nate?”
Nate broke his trance from the window. “Oh yes. Of course.”
“So are we on the same page? We’ll engage with the protesters?” I asked. Max sneered at me. I wondered what he would think if he knew his beloved Michael-white-like-me-Sayles had been sleeping with a Black woman.
Jonathan took the reins again. “Not just yet. Let’s just take a wait-and-see approach for another week or so. Don’t you agree, Nate?”
“Sure. That’s fine,” Nate said, his face molded in a blank stare. I thought he might be sick or something, but he shook it off. Nate looked back down at his notes. “Let’s see . . . uh, Max, how are we coming on the new DOT regulations?”
“Fine, Nate. Everything checks out,” Max responded. He avoided making eye contact with me.
“Did you get our new GC to have a look? We’re talking safety here,” said Nate.
“I’m happy to help,” I chimed in.
“Not necessary,” Max said as he glared at me, his lips in a tight little line of anger.
Nate paused, stroked his mustache, then moved on. “Next up . . . Libertad Excursiones.” He drew out the last word, making it sound like “X-curse-e-onez.” Nate gave a self-deprecating little chuckle. “My Spanish isn’t great. I never learned a foreign language. Only the King’s English for me.” Everyone else laughed in unison, everyone except me. “I betta learn how to pronounce it since Libertad is gonna put us on the map for international deals, contracts with the bigger companies. This is the third deal we’ve done in the past twelve months. Each one pumping up the bottom line. Jonathan, are we all set to announce the deal?”