VICTIM of PREJUDICE
-----------------PLEASE HELP--------------------
Yesterday I bought a canopy chair. Today morning made not so good cardboard placard, took few supplies, lunch, water, books and such - all set for the strangest experience of my life. I sat on the sidewalk right under a tree in front of JPMC building on Fannin between Lamar and Dallas streets. I attached the placard on the front of the canopy.
After 10 minutes the building security, a lady, complained that I am on their property. I was on the sidewalk actually. Since it was satyagraha I didn't argue. Went to corner of adjacent building and was comfortable there for a while. Then a cop came by to ask if I had a permit to protest. I had no idea what this was. He gave me some ideas on how to get that. But I had no immediate plans. He suggested to get closer to the street, on sidewalk, there it was ok to protest as long as no pedestrians or others complained. So I moved in closer. The placard kept falling so held it in hand. Spent totally an hour there. I was about to leave that corner when the JPMC security lady came by, seemed like she was taking a picture using her cell phone, I did not exactly notice as I was talking with 2 pedestrians about my protest. I don't know her what her intent was. Should have asked but forgot. She asked - "what happened?" and I explained. She replied - "I understand, We need to be all together in this". She was black, so understood a brown's scenario. I said - "Thanks, and I know that you are just doing your job". She nodded and left. By this time I had interacted with few Indians from JPMC. One passerby had noddingly said - "I am a victim of prejudice too". Another suggested the obvious, that I need to get a lawyer.
Then moved to the corner facing the JPMC Garage and Monsoon. After 10 minutes or so a white car (Ford Taurus may be) speedily swung by from San Jacinto turning towards Lamar, I could not get a good look of the guy inside, he had his passenger side window down and was trying to tell me something with his face turned away while extending his right hand to hand me something, looked like a piece of paper. He never stopped fully. I shouted "what? what?" but did not budge from sidewalk where I was seated. He sped away. May be he was trying to deliver some message from someone to meet somewhere. The next incident makes me believe so.
Another 10 minutes later I saw Brad Breau, the site director and another person briskly walking around the perimeter of JPMC building. They were looking for me. They saw me when I saw them, so came towards me. Brad said extending his hand "Hi Prahalad, I am Brad hope you know me". "Hi Brad, yes I do" and shook his hand. He introduced another as some Hassel(?) , did not get his name right. He asked what's going on, I told a 10 minute version. He said he knew and has read all my letters. He asked if I wanted "talk" and suggested the building facing back entry of JPMC. I said we could talk right there on the street. I was not comfortable going to a non-JPMC building. Further I told about the FedEx message which is a primary hinderance for any further talk seeking clarification. He promised that he will have ER revoke it, will have a FedEx overnight, so that it's clear to have a talk tomorrow in his office. OK. They left. I am not so sure about how this goes, wait and watch.
Sometime later the same cop came by and asked me whether I had the permit by this time, I said no and he asked me to move again. This time I was on the street, so why move, he said this time even people from that building's office were complaining. It was not convincing, I doubted the people because the cop seemed nice, I expected these hurdles, may be racism in subtle ways, anyway I was planning to move.
It was almost lunchtime, time to move beside Monsoon/Parkshop to face lunch traffic. It got real busy. I was telling my story to several Indians, met several new faces. By the time I was done it was almost 2 PM, my head was aching, throat dry, was tired. It was hot and humid outside. Packed up to parkshop to have lunch at subway. Was back at same spot at 2:30 Had detailed talks after that with two Indians again. Finally left for bus stop at 3:40.
This was some kind of social experiment also. Just watching how people react. About 50 responses. Here is the breakdown.
NOT a single white male responded to my placard. 1 white lady did, but she was a recuiter I knew and her talk was focussed on whether I needed a job. I said no, not yet. May be 2 hispanics did, about 15 blacks and rest were all browns like me, meaning Indians. Blacks, expectedly, resonated the most with my experience, since they have endured the most suffering in American history, Original Americans also called native Americans, have suffered more but we don't see them around at all.
Another very intersting part was - someone approaching me and after some icebreaking talk asking me if I was homeless. No. He said anyway I should start a business selling stuff, he was looking at his mobile duffel bag. He was peddling something, may be drugs. Scary!
I have dental appt. tomorrow. Also not feeling well after today's ordeal. Let us see how it goes.
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