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Nov 29, 2012, 05:49 PM
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Member Since: Jun 2007
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 5,518
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I'm aware people in my town worry about crime. It's a valid worry, considering where I live. However, I become angry at those who automatically assume a person of color is also a criminal - especially when their fear, distrust and hatred are obvious. 
My son (adult black male) walked to a gas station recently. When he approached a woman waiting at the intersection waiting for the light to turn red, she became nervous and placed a tighter grip on her purse. When the light turned green, she hesitated as if to form a "safe distance" between them. As he walked toward the entrance of the gas station, he noticed she had walked over to the bus stop.
She was still at the bus stop when he walked out. When he passed by, she became nervous again and pretended to look down the street for the bus in order to avoid eye contact. It made my son angry, thinking "Are THESE the people I risked my life for overseas in the military?"
After he crossed the street and headed towards home, he turned around to look at her again. She was on her way into the gas station, so he waited to see what she would do. Sure enough, she by-passed the bus stop, crossed the intersection and was headed back towards him. He just shook his head, walked on ahead, and went home. He knows her fear is not his problem, but this happens often with my son....simply because of his skin color/race. It wears on his soul, and it makes me angry.
It's a shame "neighbors" don't know how to acknowledge each other. I hope and pray I never see that woman at a Veterans Day celebration. If I do, she'll get an earful from me.
My husband told my son he should have waited for the woman to approach him on her way home. Upon eye contact, he could have said "I'm flattered at the lengths you went to in order to garner my attention, but I'm already taken and not at all interested in you." Of course, he was not serious.....but I would have enjoyed watching her reaction. 
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