trans | Baltimore Harbour April 2001 : The Gauntlet

I recently stopped in at Baltimore harbour for breakfast en route to DC, and walking along the harbour front, I recalled an incident that occurred the last time I was at this location on a family outing. It was night-time on a weekend. Many locals hang out at the pier when there's a breeze coming in from the bay. This was a particularly nice evening, so the touristy harbour front was packed. Instead of feeling the warm air, I felt a wave of laughter working its way towards me from behind.

I turned around and what I saw was a reflective shimmering swatch working its way through the crowd towards me. It was a young black man wearing a mirrored shirt (akin to a disco ball surface) walking alone. There was a trace of a smooth stride not traditionally associated with the male strut. The waves of laughter were generated from all the mouths of black young men and women on both sides of the walkway. He ignored it, of course.

These were not laughs of approval. They were venomed with the poison of taunting.

Yes, it's a public place, and as much right as he had to express himself, I guess they were entitled too.

The only difference is, he wasn't hurting anyone. They were.

Someone said, "what was that that just walked by?"

Me: "That, was a profile in courage."