I distinctly recall a large layoff between two women that left me in shock — and I say this as someone who didn’t think I could be shocked by Corporate America.

White journalist: Quit her job with three other friends to work for a broadcasting competitor for more money. Demanded a raise before she left after only working there for less than a year, didn’t get it and bailed.

Black journalist (on the same team): Was not asked by the rest of her team to work at the same broadcasting station. She stayed on to work with the newspaper she’d been with for eight years.

White journalist: Broadcasting company didn’t make enough money to stay afloat and terminated the whole team. All were unemployed. She asked if she could come back and get her old job. Hired back soon after.

Company layoff: Black journalist (after eight years and didn’t leave) gets terminated; white journalist (who left with a full team to work for a competitor and only worked there for about a year) stays employed.