Monday, June 15, 2015

How Others See Us

A black teenager, alone rather than with the usual crew of three, paces the train, casing it carefully before finally announcing, "Showtime, ladies and gentlemen, showtime. I'm by myself, 'cause I'm not very good, but let me assure you, you're all perfectly safe. Perfectly safe," he repeats with a sigh before beginning his dance routine, and the weariness in his voice makes me sad for him, for anybody who has to constantly reassure others that he is no danger.

Because I wonder if, after a certain amount of reassuring people that you're not dangerous, you might start to question if you might really, actually, be dangerous after all, just because everyone's so scared of you all the goddamn time.

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