Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 March 2000 — Page 23

OOFRIDAY, MARCH 31,2000

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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life OUR TOWN

Continued from C6 though they had seen a thousand sunrises. He needed a haircut bad. His nails were so dirty they looked as though someone had simply drawn a line with a black marker over his nail be'ds. He looked just like one of the brothers downtown at the shelter. He looked me right in the eyes. I was tired. My daughter was cranky. It was as much of a struggle to pay for the groceries as it was going to be to put them in the car. It did not matter if he needed a quarter, the answer was “No!” In fact. I had made up in my mind that if he persisted, I was going to go off! He. too, probably has left some woman at home struggling with his children. I tried to avoid any further eye contact while fumbling with my lock. I hoped that I would look preoccupied enough that he would change his mind. Damn, he stopped. Standing right next to me, I heard his voice before he ever opened his mouth in a slick, cool cat style clearing his throat before he spoke. “Ah, look here my sister, do you think there’s anyway I could bum a ride?” Instead, he spoke in an intelligible, harmless voice and kindly asked, “Can I help you with your grocer-

ies?”

Okay, what’s the catch? I thought to myself. For fear that he would demand payment, I was about to decline his offer when he continued, "I work right over there and was headed over to the market for some lunch and couldn’t help but notice that you had your hands full. I’d really like to help you out.” Absolutely speechless, I could only nod affirmatively. I stood back as he loaded the groceries in the truck. He then opened up my door and held it while I loaded Jaylen in her car seat. He continued to do so as I belted myself. I thanked him graciously. Even after all that, part of me was still suspicious wondering if he was going to try to put the moves on me. Wrong again! “Have a nice day ma’am,” he said as he politely shut my door. Not knowing what to do next, I simply sat there paralyzed and watched him in my rearview mirror as he reached the supermarket entrance and disappeared. Within the seconds it took for him to walk across the parking lot to me, the neurons in my closed mind were tiring synapses fast enough to have experienced a world of assumptions. I realized that I had let racial stereotypes and personal experiences and prejudices permeate my perception of certain looking brothers; only wanting to take something from you. As t drove off slowly, still processing the magnitude of my life lesson, I caught a glimpse of the place he was walking from. It was an automotive repair shop. Brother man was a mechanic. Rochelle Johnson is a writer hosed in Michigan. She can be reached by e-mail at report_onJife@hotmail. com.

Matinee

The Calvin Buckley for Judge Committee is holding a matinee on Friday, March 31 from S to 9 p.m. at the Triangle Civic Club, 5613 E. 34th St. Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door. Miss Black Expo Pageant The Indianapolis Chapter of Indiana Black Expo is accepting applications for the Miss Indianapolis Black Expo Pageant. Young women between the ages of 14 and 23 years will be competing in two divisions —junior and senior. They will attend classes and workshops designed to build self-confidence and self-esteem, culminating in a

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ROSE Awards ‘ The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA) honored 10 service Industry employees with the coveted ROSE Awards for their work In enhancing the city’s reputation for hospitality. Pictured are back row (left to right): Marge Tarplee, ROSE Awards chairwoman; Mayor Bart Peterson; Kathy Jo Wright, Indiana Roof Ballroom; Nate Green, Canterbury Hotel; Jan Yockey, American Trans Air; John Myers, Crystal Catering; Gladys Dickey, KeyBank; and Bill McGowan, president and CEO of ICVA. Front row: Thomas Guevara, Alcatraz Brewing Co.; Janet Lang, Hdllday Inn East; Doris Smith, Holiday Inn East; Margaret Hughel, Nordstrom; and Ralph Nixon, Quality Inn South.'

talent showcase, queen’s coronation and scholarship awards. The entry deadline is April 19 and the pageant will be June 25. For more information call Valerie Jones, recruitment director at (317) 8428841, (317) 307-3478 or Marsha Deering, assistant recruitment director at (317) 297-8143, (317) 5531747. Answer to Super Crossword

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