“Watching Us”

Malik Brezin-Reed

As we walk on the white V.C.T flooring

Looking down, we get a glance at our reflections.

Looking back, we see black hoods with inviting scents wafting from the bakery, the deli, and

fresh produce.

As we look up, we see unfamiliar pale faces.

Staring at us as if we're under some microscope

Brunette pale faces staring at us

Blonde pale faces staring at us and

Orange pale faces staring at us

What is this?

All I came to do was buy some Gotdamn black pepper.

May I help you all?

A pale man dressed in blue demands

Should we run?

But we don't want our visions to get dark.

Should we protest?

Become labeled terrorists

Or should we ask

Why are you watching us?

Malik Brezin-Reed’s story “On My Own” is the winner of the Black History Month’s Big Read Contest in Fiction.