A memory:
I walk past the screaming woman, her hair unkempt. She calls me names. Her clothes, filthy.
I take my worried daughters hand and like good New Yorkers we clip along, eyes forward, down the stairs to the subway where my metro card reads, “insufficient balance.”
I take a breath. And we climb back to the street, making our way down two blocks to reload the card. But the man stops me, offers to pay the fair.
I eye him, untrusting of this kindness as we clomp back down the cement steps. “It’s two rides,” I say. “Five dollars.”
He says, “I saw you with your girl.” His eyes glance to my daughter. “I saw you when the homeless woman screamed in your face. I heard you. I heard you tell your girl it’s all right, this woman is unwell and needs help we can’t give today. I heard you. I saw you treat that crazy woman like she’s human. I saw you teach your child to respect everyone. I will pay for your rides.”
This memory continues to live in me. It’s changed me. I walk with eyes open. I’m ready to pay for your ride.
- How would you have responded in this situation?
- What’s your last memory of Revolutionary Love?
To find out more about Revolutionary Love visit MiddleProject.org or follow #RevLove16
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// CREDITS //
Spoken by Starr Austin
Music by Podington Bear
Footage by VideoBlocks
Edited by Jim Kast-Keat
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