I’m riding my bike down Lancaster Avenue when a stranger waves me down.
Black Stranger: Hey you! Yeah, you on the bike! Come on over!
Me: ehhhh
Black Stranger: Free food!
Me: YEAH OK
Black Stranger: How ya doin today my friend?
Me: I’m doing pretty great! What’s going on here?
Black Stranger: We’re giving out free meals to folks in the area, come on in!
Me: How could I say no
So I walk into the building past Black Stranger, and there’s someone inside putting chicken and collard greens and corn into styrofoam containers. Every wall in this room is covered with art, all depicting Black people at various points in American history. There are statues of starving Black folks in chains.
You might see why this makes me a little uncomfortable.
Me: Hi!
Black Worker: …
Me: How’s it going?
Black Worker: …
Me: What’s the occasion?
Black Worker: How many you want?
Me: Uhh… just- just one, please.
Black Worker, handing me the tray: Here
Me: Thank you!
Black Worker: …
So I leave. The person out front is talking with someone else on the sidewalk, and I walk out of the building with no acknowledgment.
That was really weird.
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