I was running late for work this morning, so I was hauling ass on Roosevelt Boulevard, weaving in and out of traffic, and driving like there was a Lark sighting in Philadelphia. Anyway, as luck would have it, I see the flashing lights of the po po behind me. So I get the "driver's license and registration request from this Philly Highway Patrol cop. He looks like a good Irishman, and he looks like he has been doing his job for awhile. So anyway, as I take my driver's license out of my wallet, my man notices my court badge. He asks me what I do for a living and I tell him. He asks me why the rush, and I tell him I am late for court. He gives me one of those looks-the one I have gotten quite a few times after showing my badge- and he tells me to slow down be careful and have a nice day. No ticket, no warning, just have a nice day!
So now I am rushing into the court house, I recognize some of the sheriffs and they are all waving me through. Except for one. This particular sheriff tells me to stop. She wants to know where I think I am going without showing my bar card or some form of ID. I tell her I am an attorney and I actually work for the courts,but girlfriend isn't having it. I show her my badge. Still not having it, she wants to see my bar card. "Anybody can get a badge". I am late now, I have spent five minutes already with Cleopatra Jones. I tell her my bar card is in another brief case and I apologize for not having it. She wants me to go into another line. (it's longer and I would have to go all the way to the back) "He's cool, he works with another branch of the courts, I can vouch for him, he is a lawyer". She lets me go. I thank the sheriff that got my back, and I am on my way.
So here is what's bothering me; the two people that cut me some slack today, were white men. The one person that gave me a hard time, was a black female. I know she was just doing her job....but damn, did she have to be so hard on a brother? I have had this discussion with friends before about the hard ass attitude some of our own people take with each other; and honestly, I don't understand it. I mean why couldn't she just let me through with the badge I produced and taken my word that I was a lawyer? I know, I know, she was doing her job. But damn it, there is such a thing as common sense, and she wasn't using it. Like WTF? Did she think she was going to get a fucking raise for giving some field Negro a hard time because he couldn't quickly produce a bar card? Geez!
So that was the first thing. Now the second thing is a little more personal to me, and the fact that I am blogging about it might even piss some of you off. But fuck it, I always keep it 100% with you, and I won't stop now.
I passed by this lube shop called "Grease Monkey" today, and right in front of this shop was a brother with overalls covered in grease. First of all, I hate that fucking name, and every time I see one of those shops I get pissed off. ("Oh field, you are way too sensitive". I know, chalk it up to my knowledge of history) But something about seeing fam today in the hot ass son was very troubling to me. Couldn't he get a job at Jiffy Lube or some shit? I know people can name their franchise pretty much what they want, but do we have to work in that bitch, or patronize them with our business? "So where do you work?"" Ahhh with a lube and oil change company." "Yeah, what's the name of it? ""Ahhh Grease Monkey....""Grease Monkey? ""Yeah Grease Monkey...."
Maybe it's no big deal, but today I just wasn't in the mood to see that brother standing in front of Grease Monkey. The imagery just sucked! Kind of like girlfriend who wouldn't show a brother some love earlier in the day. Honestly, her ass should have been standing in front of grease monkey. At least the imagery would have been more appropriate.
