Behind the Wheel

How is it that I end up with freaky, opinionated cab drivers? I've argued with a homophobic Christian zealot in Sydney, a Nigerian supporter of then-Mayor Brown in Boston, and no telling how many others in SF. Yesterday I squared off against an older brotha who gave me a ride to National Airport in DC. After we bonded for a moment over both being from North Carolina, the gloves came off. He made some crack about getting rid of all the Middle Eastern cab drivers; I came back with "how can you lump them all together?" He, an ardent supporter of the current administration, challenged me to state one remarkable thing that Clinton did in office -- "other than get his **** ******!" I demanded that he name one thing that post-1968 Republicans have ever done for Black folk (he had the gall to say that they were our best friends!!)!

It was both a thrilling and frustrating battle and we kept a reasonable sense of humor throughout (I didn't want to end up in the Potomac, after all). He saw me as a young whippersnapper who didn't know my history; I saw him as a bitter ol fool projecting his insecurity and ignorance onto a national political framework.

Plus, he didn't even offer me my change!!!