Taxi Talk
I had a rough afternoon and evening today, so I treated myself to a taxi home from doing errands around 7 pm. I stood at the corner to hail the cab and a black man was standing there trying to do the same thing. When the car came to a halt 20 feet from us, I looked at him, ready for him to go take it. He'd gotten there first. As far as I was concerned, that was his taxi.
He told me to go ahead and take it. After thanking him, I ran to get in before someone else took it (forgetting this is not NY?). The driver of the cab had the radio turned to a news channel, and was listening to a sports recap. He was an older black man, and told me how ridiculous sports has become.
"They say he's great. He ain't great. He didn't save anybody. He just plays ball. They give too much importance to athletes these days. All I can do is laugh."
Told me how much things have changed in the last few decades.
"In the 60's they used to say black men were too stupid to be quarterbacks. It made me laugh."
Told me how how people respond to things.
"When Katrina came and it was all black folks needing help, took three days for the National Guard to show up. Lots of them STILL need help. But in the 50's when there was black boys looting by the Bay Bridge, National Guard was called. They showed up right away. None of this three day shit. All I do is laugh."
The guy talked all the way to my stop. I didn't say much - what does a white girl say to this? He kept telling me how he laughs at all these bad, unfair things. Seems to me like one of those situations where you laugh so you won't cry.
He told me to go ahead and take it. After thanking him, I ran to get in before someone else took it (forgetting this is not NY?). The driver of the cab had the radio turned to a news channel, and was listening to a sports recap. He was an older black man, and told me how ridiculous sports has become.
"They say he's great. He ain't great. He didn't save anybody. He just plays ball. They give too much importance to athletes these days. All I can do is laugh."
Told me how much things have changed in the last few decades.
"In the 60's they used to say black men were too stupid to be quarterbacks. It made me laugh."
Told me how how people respond to things.
"When Katrina came and it was all black folks needing help, took three days for the National Guard to show up. Lots of them STILL need help. But in the 50's when there was black boys looting by the Bay Bridge, National Guard was called. They showed up right away. None of this three day shit. All I do is laugh."
The guy talked all the way to my stop. I didn't say much - what does a white girl say to this? He kept telling me how he laughs at all these bad, unfair things. Seems to me like one of those situations where you laugh so you won't cry.
posted by Green at 8/02/2006 11:10:00 PM
5 Comments:
He didn't laugh about his knife collection and his new airsoft rifles now did he? I think we've got the beginning of a movie going here.
Also I need assurance that you are not quitting blogging anytime soon. Several of my favorites have stopped and my abandonment issues just couldn't take another.
Steve, I'm not quitting blogging. Sometimes I take breaks, which seem to last about a week. But I'm not quitting.
When are you starting yours?
Are you trying to get rid of me?
I don't need the hassle of my own blog, although I have thought about it.
Just doing comments, I can keep it light, maybe add a little perspective, and not bring up sad or crazymaking stuff.
I like your blog green, I am glad you aren't stopping...
I only read you, opinionista and mimi... you are thhe most down to earth of the three, and I love the whole Grandma thing at your job...
Steve seems like he'd be great at blogging...
I think when things hurt for so bad for so long you start to laugh. Babe grew up with civil war and for boy scouts fun they triaged bomb blast victims. So he has seen more than a few freshly legless people in his life. When he sees coverage of Iraq or now Lebananon, he laughs. I dont think he finds it funny, but when you just cant take the pain anymore because it has scarred you so bad, you laugh. It is like PTSD or something.
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