“It’s a lie,” I told him.
The old man ignored me. He looked at Brian, “I thought you’d be on the other girl’s side, not sure I would’ve let you past if I knew it was any different.”
For fuck’s sake.
Why had he come to that conclusion? Because Brian and Sophia were both black? I didn’t like that assumption, that I was automatically the bad guy, here.
Ahh, right. The shopkeep was black too.
Ugh, I don’t know how to put what seems to be going on here without sounding like a douche…
It’s racism. I do not want to debate whether “reverse racism” is a thing or not, but the black shopkeep appears to be prejudiced against Taylor because she’s white and in favor of Brian and Sophia because they’re black. If that isn’t racism, then I don’t know what is.
(I’ll say this much – it’s a matter of semantics. Usually one side of that debate is talking about systemic racism whereas the other is talking about personal racism, but people don’t always keep in mind that there’s a difference.)
“No,” was Brian’s curt reply. “My friend is right. That girl attacked her.”
Sophia backed away another few small steps, behind the old man. When Brian moved forward, the old man got in his way, angry. “Hey now, I’m not going to have any more fighting in my bookstore.”
Of course. When the person you’ve assumed is the “good guy” is on the defensive, you don’t want any more fighting.
Sophia saw her chance and ran. I raised my hand, as if I could somehow reach out and stop her, then dropped it.
Oh well.
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