White Isaac Hayes

On Sunday when I was walking to lunch after church, a guy the street corner got my attention and said, "Here comes a white Isaac Hayes." I suppose in a round about kind of way, it could appear that way. Bald head, full beard, and at the time I was wearing sunglasses. I also had on a very snazzy tie. But, I think the similarities break down about there.

Anyway, this being a street corner in Boston, in the middle of the day, I assumed he was soliciting money rather than just being friendly. As it turns out he was, but I'm jumping ahead abit. So as I got a bit closer he said, rather more loudly than necessary, "You look like the kind of guy who isn't afraid of a black man," and offered to shake my hand. So, while I was mildly offended by the statement, I didn't have a strong reason not to shake hands.

He then went into his sales pitch. He was apparently raising money for a book drive in Roxbury to help black children. He was the one who emphasized that it was for black children. I suppose that his loud manner, and frequent reference to race was an attempt to get me to donate based on "white guilt."

I declined.

As I started to turn away, the guy said, "You aren't going to hit me, are you?" He held up his hands in mock surrender. Nothing else the guy had said, or how he acted, made me even consider physical violence (or even saying something mean), but that one question did inspire violent thoughts.

I don't know whether he was fooling around, or if he was making a scene to attract attention/pity from other pedestrians. To me, it was insulting, a verbal slap in the face. I realize I am a big man, and I was probably 6" taller than this fellow, but I find it incredulous that he felt physically threatened by my movements/posture.

Anyway, it wasn't an entirely unpleasent walk to lunch. I also walked past an old woman sitting on a park bench. I said hello, and she responded with a "Good morning." I'm not sure if I flinched in some way, or if she caught the mistake herself, but with chargrin she started to amend her greeting, since it was in fact afternoon. But, it did feel like morning, and with a glance at my watch, I reassured her that it was only half an hour after morning.