It's not just in the corporate sector this happens.  In the early 80s after a maternity leave I was looking for work as a social worker.  I sent out resumes and heard back from maybe 50%.  There were no fewer than 4 
intense interviews with the five agencies that were interested.  As a fairly
recent immigrant, white, with just four years of work behind me in my new country I was very nervous about the procedure.  It was tough and I
felt exhausted when this episode in my life was over.  I had been offered work from 3 out of five and was happy, but because the interview sessions had been so gruelling, and sometimes nasty, I had lost interest  in a couple but was
fortunate to like the people in the third agency. 
The writer defines herself by her colour.  It's sad. And if her attitude is anything to go by there's not much hope for good race relations in this country.  Although I happen to think differently.  
On another note.  Did her mother do nothing to further her sucess?  Only
daddy?