Differences
Haneef Muhammad
As the Obetz police pull off I wave to the owner of the Obetz Hardware store and thank
him. As I get into my grey 2002 Chevy Prism and my heart begins beating like an old
Indian war drum right before battle; sweat begins pouring down my forehead as my body
slumps into my seat for a brief moment. I can feel the wind slowly leave my body as
I gasp for air because of a sudden anxiousness to leave this small hick town called
Obetz. I could have lost my life here. As I start my engine to make my escape I couldn't
help but think of the countless lives that were lost behind something similar. I begin
to pull off in shock; but not before I start to ponder on how I even made the decision
to even come to Obetz knowing the history. For some reason on this day I wasn't thinking
about me being black. My mother and uncle warned me of the dangers in America and
today was my day to become a statistic.
The night before, it was late and I decided to head to Romey's to grab some Dutches.
Romey's is a little corner store next to a day care on Lockbourne road on the south
side of Columbus, Ohio. After 11 P.M everything is closed in Southfield but the Shell
gas station and the don't sell Dutches. I got into my car, shook the rain off my jacket
and began my drive to Romey's. I turned the radio up to attempt to drown out the sound
of the rain crashing against my car. As I sped over the railroad tracks I heard a
loud boom! My night all of sudden changed.
I heard what sounds like metal dragging against wet blacktop but I kept driving thinking
it was the car behind me or something else. I eventually turned down the radio and
pulled over after a quarter mile. I reluctantly got out of my car into the pouring
rain to investigate this sound. I walked to the back of my car and was shocked to
see my muffler was on the ground. I kneeled to pick up this rusting piece of metal
and noticed a screw had fallen out as I sped over the railroad tracks. Soaking wet,
I tied the muffler to the bumper with a grey shoestring I had pulled out my sneakers
and drove it to my mother's until Obetz hardware opened.
The next day was such a beautiful day until I walked out into the baking sun and instantly
noticed the grey shoestring tied to the bumper of my beautiful bucket. I called my
uncle Claude over to borrow a hydraulic jack so I could get more info on this bolt
that needed replaced. Claude used to be a mechanic for the U.S Air Force so he can
work on anything and has almost every tool known to man. Claude assisted me and I
got my specifications as heard my mother ask, "Are you going to Lowes?" My mother
is the sweetest woman you will ever meet. She always tries to give me helpful advice
but for some reason the hard head kid in me always wants to do the opposite. So of
course I replied, "Obetz Hardware is way closer." Claude stood by in his all black
coverall and slowly took a hit of his black and mild and said, "Obetz hardware is
closer" in a sarcastic tone. Feeling triumphant I was on my way.
On the way to the hard ware store I made sure that I was buckled up and doing the
speed limit. As a youth I have vivid memories of walking to the Dairy Queen in Obetz
across from Obetz Hardware and cars of white men would ride by and angrily scream
"Nigger." So as an adult I knew whenever entering Obetz, Ohio I had to be sure to
obey all speed laws or risk losing my life. I parked my car and went inside the hardware
store.
Once inside the store I approached two white men at the counter. One was slim and
the other was heavy set; both men were wearing Ohio State T-shirts. I asked them for
this a specific bolt. The slim guy offered to help and we began the tedious task of
matching bolts and finding a nut to fit it. We find the bolt I was looking for; I
walk back to the counter pay the heavy set man for it and began to walk to my car.
Once at my car I get greeted by an Obetz police with his hand on his all black 9mm.
My throat dropped into my stomach as I reached for my receipt and I uttered "What's
the problem officer?" Aggressively snatching my receipt out of my hand; he replies,
"We got a call from inside Obetz hardware of a black man that fits your description
standing behind the counter." As he hands me back my receipt I quickly said, "I have
no idea what you're talking about. We can go inside and ask the owner of the store
if I did anything wrong." Before I can say anything else we were joined by two more
Obetz police officers assessing the situation. I quickly began walking toward the
store thinking at any time I was going to be tackled or shot but I couldn't stop walking.
I walked back into the hardware store flanked by three police officers looking for
anyone I had come in contact with to verify my story. I walk up to the skinny man
who helped me find my bolt and said "Excuse me sir, these officers stopped me and
said I fit the description of a black man standing behind the counter. Can you please
tell these gentlemen I have nothing to do with what they are talking about?" He told
them I was innocent and began to walk toward the owner of the store with a look of
disbelief on his face. He explained to the owner my plight and the owner told the
police officers that nobody was behind the counter and I began to walk out.
Once outside I grabbed my phone in relief to call anybody and was greeted again by
the police officers again. One of the police officers in an aggressive tone asks me,
"Do you have a problem?" For a split second I thought I was American and had rights
so I replied, "Yes, this is ridiculous and you would be mad if it happened to you."
At that moment I knew I messed up. That was a trick question to cause a confrontation.
As the officers began walking toward me; I heard a scream from the distance shout,
"Y'all going to have to leave him alone!" It was the owner of the hardware store walking
towards us shouting obscenities. He commanded the officers to get off his property
and to leave me alone because I am a paying customer. One of the officers replied,
"We were just responding to a call from inside your store from a woman." I stood by
silent as the owner of the hardware store told the officers of a woman who saw me
and asked him if he wanted her to call the police on me. He said no and asked her
why. She had no response but obviously went outside and called them anyway. He told
the officers, "That's not what we are about at my store." As he urged the officers
to leave he turned to me and apologized to me; and with a look of sadness of his face
he said, "I could see what was about to happen and I could not have stood by and allowed
them to do it." I turned to him and replied "Thank you, I thought it was over for
a second." As he shook my hand he said, not on my watch" I got in my car and drove
off.
As I pulled up to my mother's house I notice that my body is in a state of shock.
My mother and uncle greet me at the door and I began to tell them what happened. My
Uncle angrily said cursed Obetz and my mother just gazed at me with a look I never
saw before. A confused sort of hurt look if I had to describe it. Me and my uncle
just repaired my car in a sort of awkward silence.
Later that day, the thought of me driving seemed to make me nauseous. It was as if
I was paralyzed inside my mind. Angry but still scared of the harsh reality of being
born black in America. I became saddened by the darkness of my skin and burdened by
the stigma of being a second class citizen that has become attached to it. Not only
had I become scared for my own life, I had become scared for the lives of my children.
It's funny how the people who say forget the past just happen to have an unseen advantage
that comes with it. Most of them are unaware of the advantage they have because they
are not forced to wake up different. Forever now I'm aware that I have the blood of
the indigenous people of this Earth who were brutally murdered in the name of white
supremacy shielded by Jesus. Most of the racism and hate I encounter is to protect
this privilege that this systematic racism in America can bring. There is a sort of
evil arrogance that white privilege brings and it hides in the hearts of some men
breeding hate. In society we often tend to stand by while injustice is being served.
Throughout time few have the courage to stand up for what's right. On this day I was
glad I encountered a man who had the strength to not stand by and allow injustice.
Ask yourself, do you have the strength to look past differences and stand up for what's
right?