To the White Man Who Came Into The Coffeeshop Today

You looked like a threat to me and here’s why

It’s not your fault but, this is how it went down.

You walked toward the glass door. I noticed a dark object in your hand. I noticed your hastened stride, and my muscles went tense, my eyes narrowed on to the object in your hand.

Insert a sign of relief. It was just your cell phone.

Before you came in, a black teen had entered and sat next to me, two girls of Southeast Asian descent had been speaking very loudly in what I think was Japanese based on my experience as an English Language Instructor. Two older white women walked by and left quickly with their coffees, and a couple of teens of Central American ancestry had been studying nearby…

but none of these people frightened people. None of these people appeared to be a threat to me. But you, you did and here’s why.

White males are not policed the same way the rest of us are. White males are permitted to act aggressively and/or intrusive into the spaces of others and in public space, and most likely they will be met with little to no reprimand from police.