![\"Jenny](\"https:\/\/news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/andree-jenny-francois-samsung-digital-appliance-m.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen I was eight years old, my family and I immigrated from Haiti to New Jersey. Most people couldn\u2019t pronounce my name, so I chose to go by Jenny. But dropping my full first name was just the beginning of feeling \u201cothered\u201d in America. Back in Haiti, I had no knowledge or first-hand experience of racism. Here, there was a lot of stigma against Haitians. It was the late \u201980s, and the media perpetuated many negative stereotypes, linking Haiti to destitution and the HIV\/AIDS epidemic. I tried to distance myself from all this and told other kids that I was from Florida. However, the truth remained that I wasn\u2019t American. I was learning English and I struggled with words like “jewelry,” “rural,” “oil,” and \u201cyou\u2019re welcome.\u201d The “r,” “l,” and “w” sounds were particularly challenging for me as a Haitian Creole and French speaker. But as I grew up, I wanted to fit in, and I assimilated so hard that I eventually lost my ability to speak French. Now, I think and dream in English. I hid that aspect of identity for so long, that I lost it. In hindsight, I regret this loss very much.<\/p>\n
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I realize now that many other first and second-generation immigrants have also faced immense pressure to conform to the American way of life, causing them to abandon parts of their culture and language \u2013 even today. Looking back, I\u2019d tell my younger self to embrace vulnerability and seek advice from varying sources, even if it is unpleasant. While certain obstacles exist, I\u2019m more certain in my capabilities and contributions.<\/p>\n
As someone who identifies as queer, I face added challenges within my cultural community. The constant pressure to “come out” reinforces heterosexuality as the norm. As a woman of color, being queer, Black, and female compounds these issues, as these intersectional identities are often marginalized.<\/p>\n
![\"Careers\"](\"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/02102756\/Corp-Careers.png\")
\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\nI\u2019ve been at Samsung for nine years, and it\u2019s been great to see the company becoming more diverse and committed to inclusion. I\u2019ve been active in our Employee Resource Groups and Affinity Groups<\/a>, particularly, the Galaxy of Black Professionals<\/a> and PRIDE<\/a>. By participating in open forums<\/a>, I\u2019ve found a space to have honest conversations with my coworkers, built a sense of community, belonging and understanding. People here know me through my work, and as a member of our ERG\u2019s leadership team who\u2019s passionate about intersectionality, but they also know who I am as a human being. And I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.<\/p>\n Andree-Jenny Francois at an Out & Equal's Workplace Summit in Washington, DC in 2019. <\/p><\/div> Andree-Jenny Francois with her sister and nephews. <\/p><\/div><\/div>![\"Jenny](\"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/28160230\/jenny-rainbow-chair-scaled.jpg\")
![\"Jenny](\"https:\/\/img.us.news.samsung.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/28160430\/jenny-family.jpg\")