As a youth growing up in an all black neighborhood I saw everything but accountants. We had a couple attorneys, even a physician but not an accountant. In fact I didn't even know what an accountant was or that there was a whole profession for it till I reached middle school and one of my teachers asked me if I had considered it as a career. I remember asking if black people chose this as a career because I had never heard of it. It wasn't until years later when I read a book by Theresa Hammond that I understood why I hadn't heard of people of color in accounting.
I hesitated, for a little while, in chosing this career. I always believed in knowing exactly what I was getting into before I got into it. Accounting was the one thing I didn't know about and there really wasn't that much out there to research so I was stuck in a quandry. It seemed interesting but what could I do in accounting and would it make a difference.
It wasn't until my junior year in high school that I met my first black accountant. Of all people it was my basketball coach and he was also the accounting teacher. It was soooo wierd how I found out he was an accountant. He had been my coach for two years and I had no idea. Anywho it was after a game and he mentioned that he was going to be tired at work because the game ran a little late. I asked him, jokingly, what he did. He stated he was an accountant. That was all I needed. He was gracious enough to tell me about the profession and the fact that there were not enough people of color in it. For two weeks I picked his brain everytime I saw him. It even got to the point when he would share with me without me asking. I was enthralled by everything he described to me and I realized I could do a lot of good, if I wanted to, within this career. The only thing by the time I signed up for the class combo it was too late and I had to take a typing/secretarial class (ohhhh I was sooooo mad and dissappointed). But I labored through the class. It later assisted me in being able to type all of my homework assignments at lightening speed and get paid to type others. Sometimes you never know how the things that we really don't feel are worthy of our time actually wind up helping us accomplish the things that we feel are worthy of our time. Thank God.
Hi Crystal, well there sure are a bunch of them now! my son is one!! Mr. non -humanitarian--but I love him anyway!-:)
Friday, March 13th 2009 at 1:13PM
Marta Fernandez
Sister Crystal,
WOW! I see we both have a lot in common. Like you, I took a typing class in high school and I also have an associate degree in business administration with a minor in accounting. I TOTALLY agree with you that more black accountants are needed in the community. Our black people (mostly our youth) have forgotten the true value of money. They only see the fine things that come out of it--the cars, designer clothing, and of course, the popularity. Accounting should be mandatory subject in high school & college because you'll never be broke once you master the principles.
