I've come to expect mean baseness from people.
I expect them to be petty, to monger, to gossip, to lie and to only care about themselves.
Is this wrong? I mean--it certainly appears to be true.
But not too long ago I believed in the common milk of kindness--that all people were, deep down, inherently good.
In the last few months, I've been wrestled and pinned to a stone floor, beaten, spit upon, harassed, called names, thrown from moving vehicles, threatened with guns, stopped and searched, been accused of racism, been accused of adultery, insulted because of the instruments I play, insulted for the music I play, and a number of other, progressively pettier things.
That's real life.
I don't even expect people to greet me anymore. I look them in the eyes, and it seems like they hate me before I ever open my mouth.
But then I come here, and my world fills with real human beings again.
I love this place. It makes me feel less alone, and I wish it were home.
Goodnight.
I expect them to be petty, to monger, to gossip, to lie and to only care about themselves.
Is this wrong? I mean--it certainly appears to be true.
But not too long ago I believed in the common milk of kindness--that all people were, deep down, inherently good.
In the last few months, I've been wrestled and pinned to a stone floor, beaten, spit upon, harassed, called names, thrown from moving vehicles, threatened with guns, stopped and searched, been accused of racism, been accused of adultery, insulted because of the instruments I play, insulted for the music I play, and a number of other, progressively pettier things.
That's real life.
I don't even expect people to greet me anymore. I look them in the eyes, and it seems like they hate me before I ever open my mouth.
But then I come here, and my world fills with real human beings again.
I love this place. It makes me feel less alone, and I wish it were home.
Goodnight.