THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995                   TAG: 9506030384
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: FINAL 
SERIES: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
        A four-part series
        PART ONE
        OVERVIEW
SOURCE: By Margaret Edds
        
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   53 lines

JOYCE MARTIN HARD WORK AND LONG BATTLES WON SUCCESS

Joyce Keeling Martin views herself as an affirmative action gold medalist.

``I would not be where I am without it,'' says the 46-year-old, who credits hard work and two equal-employment grievances with making her one of the highest-ranking black women employed by the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

The company's status as a government contractor compels its officials to pursue affirmative action goals.

``I was seen as being too aggressive, too egotistical, too assertive. If those were characteristics of a male, those would be good characteristics,'' said Martin, who is also an associate minister at Olive Grove Baptist Church in Norfolk.

With gumption she developed as the oldest of 10 children growing up on a farm in the old Princess Anne County, Martin entered a shipyard apprenticeship program in 1969. Four years later, she became the first female and first African-American mechanic among about 700 men in the machine shop.

Her career soon stalled. Not until she filed her first grievance did she begin to move up again. By 1982, Martin had risen to supervisory planner, with 17 employees in her charge. She was the first woman to hold the post.

Once again, however, the doors appeared to be closing. After she was bypassed for the third time for a promotion won by a white male, ``the Lord said it's time to do something about it,'' Martin said. She filed her second complaint.

In the May 1992 filing, Martin sought two forms of relief: a chance to perform at a higher pay-grade level, and promotion with back pay if she succeeded. She had given testimony at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office in Norfolk and appeared headed for court when her new job, along with back pay, came through.

Today, Martin makes almost $50,000 a year as a production controller, providing estimates and other financial services to shipyard customers.

Without affirmative action, she said, ``I'd still be working at my tools, most definitely.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff

by CNB