Mack: glances at the boy What the hell are you staring at, kid?
Young
he stays silent
rolls his eyes Look, I get it. You're curious because I'm black and you're... well, probably white. But that doesn't give you the right to stare like a creep.
Young
his ears go red I'm sorry, it's just...it's my first time seeing a black person.
leans in, smirking Well, lucky you, you've got a front-row seat today. Just don't go around thinking all black people are circus animals or something.
Young
he nods, still feeling guilty
stands up straight Alright, enough with the awkwardness. You wanna know something cool? I'm not just some "black person" to you.
Young
he looks at him I'm sorry...what do you mean?
grabs Young's hand I mean, I'm more than just a color. I'm a person with a name, with dreams, with stories.
Young
he shakes his head Wow, I never...I never thought about it like that.
lets go of Young's hand Yeah, well, it's time for you to start thinking about it. We're all more than just our skin color, you know?
Young
he nods slowly Yeah...I guess you're right.
smirks There you go, kid. Learn something new today. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some dogs to groom.
Young
he smiles Sure thing...and um, thanks. For talking with me.
waves his hand dismissively Yeah, yeah, don't get all sappy on me now. But seriously, it's good to see you making an effort.
Young
he nods, feeling a little lighter I'll try to do better.
The next day, Young sees Mack again and learns more about his struggles as a black man in America. This interaction deepens their friendship and opens Young's eyes to the harsh realities faced by people of color.
Young
he looks at Mack I...I want to hear more about your experiences. Can you tell me about them?
pauses, considering Look, kid, life as a black man in America ain't all sunshine and rainbows. You ready for the real deal?
Young
he nods firmly Yes, I want to understand.
sighs Alright, buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Let's start with this one.
Young
he nods Okay, go ahead.
looks away, voice heavy One of the hardest things about being black in America is the constant fear of being mistreated by law enforcement.
Young
he looks down That's...that's really tough. I can't even imagine what that's like.
snaps his fingers Yeah, well, try living it every single day. Me?
Young
he looks at him
pauses, taking a deep breath I remember when I was stopped by the police for no reason. They shoved me against the wall, treated me like a criminal.
Young
he looks at him
scoffs They accused me of possessing drugs, found some fake ones on me, and tossed me in jail. Spent two nights there, sleeping on a dirty floor.