September 2006

I’ve lived in Baltimore for about 3 months now….I’ve seen a lot.

…I’ve seen a man thrown into the path of my van by a police officer trying to apprehend him.

…I’ve seen fear.

…I’ve seen the emotion in my son’s face when his bike was stolen from under him by three other kids.

…I’ve seen hate for me in the face of another.

…I’ve seen drug deals made at speeds of over 25 mph.

…I’ve seen a small girl urinating in an alley.

…I’ve seen anger.

…I’ve seen a man lie to my face about stealing from my son.

…I’ve seen sorrow in full measure.

…I’ve seen trash.

…I’ve seen children playing at the feet of poverty and crime.

…I’ve seen grown men lose control for fear of losing security.

…I’ve seen blood.

Let all the colors above remain a mystery….below they will not.

…I’ve just seen a brown car roll over in front of white me and my white son.

…I’ve just seen an Asian man desperately trying to escape from his overturned vehicle.

…I’ve just seen a black woman frantically calling 911 as I ran by.

…I’ve just seen a white man smashing at a window to save an Asian man until his hand was bleeding bright red.

…I’ve just seen a black woman put her blue sneaker through the driver’s window.

…I’ve just seen an Asian woman helped out of her window by a white woman.

…I’ve just seen an Indian man and a white man pull an Asian man out of his battered vehicle to safety.

…I’ve just seen a black man guiding the congested, confusing traffic around the dark tragedy.

…I’ve just seen the inside of a very dark vehicle all except for the white airbags all over the place as I crawled to turn off the engine.

…I’ve just seen a white man try his best to assure a badly injured Asian man that all would be alright with him and his wife.

…I’ve just seen a black man and a white woman cross chaotic traffic to offer medical assistance to an Asian couple in the middle of a very bad day.

…I’ve just seen a green seat cushion slid under the head of an Asian man to keep his head off of the black asphalt and blue-green glass.

…I’ve just seen my son as white as a ghost.

The colors of the city can be terrible and frightening.

The colors of the city can be beautiful and inspiring.

I’ve seen colors.