I recently conducted an experiment. Since I failed pretty much every single science class I’ve ever taken, this one does not involve numbers, chemical symbols, or Bunsen burners. Just what I do best, the observation of people, places, or things; sort of a social experiment. I had the day off so I decided to catch the bus into town to go eat. I realize by typing that last sentence I am divulging to HippoNation that I am a 27 year old man that rides the bus, but that is neither here or there. I happen to like the ozone layer or what’s left of it. Don’t change the subject. After I got on the bus I recognized it was about half full of sparsely seated people. I sat down on my own row, which holds two people, and put on my MP3 player to get ready for the ride. After a few stops, the bus started to fill up and people would get on, look for a seat and sit down. After a few more stops, I became conscious of the fact that every row was full except mine. And there were people standing, which I didn’t see as strange until it dawned on me that someone could have sat next to me. But they would just get on, look at the seat, and keep going.

First I was offended, and then I just thought it was kind of funny. Did I stink? I don’t look scary (see my thumbnail pic), do I? Is it just because I am black? Am I actually going to mug you on a bus full of people, and if so, where the hell would I hide seeing as I play on TV twice a week? What I found ridiculous to the point of hilarity was that there was a stinky bum, and a crabby old lady replete with a mustache that both had seatmates. A couple of black ladies had seatmates, so it wasn’t a black thing totally, just a young black guy thing. So I got off the bus and thought about it at lunch. On the ride home, I noticed the exact same situation, except this time, a little kid about 12 just walked right on, and sat right down next to me with no qualms.

I was dumfounded, then I realized that kids really don’t know anything about white or black. Nor do they care. They just want a seat. The kid even seemed mildly interested in me. I got off and crossed the street to catch a bus going the other way just go get more examples to test my “I Don’t Want To Sit Next To The Black Guy” theory. Four bus rides later and three more young teen seatmates later, I realized grown ups don’t like to sit near black guys on buses. Maybe they just don’t know anything but fear of them for some reason. So now every time I get on the bus, no matter what seat is open, I sit next the oldest, most frightened looking person and cozy right up to them with a huge ass beaming smile. Periodically, I look at them in the face and smile. Sometimes I even offer them my MP3 player, putting my self at risk for an earbud full of hairy earwax. But it’s just a casualty or war. Maybe I can spread cheer one old racially biased person at a time. I don’t think it’s working that well at the moment. But hey, you can’t fault me for trying.

I realize, as my wife pointed out, that there aren’t many black people in Finland. The national sports here are soccer (read, few black people) and hockey (read, no black people), so it’s not like they see or even cheer for black people the way Americans do. But if people just stop to think realistically about the situation, things could take a change for the better. Is it that bad having to sit next to a black guy for 10 minutes? On a crowded bus? Safety can’t be an issue. Like the time when I walking in the Bellevue Mall parking lot in Nashville and a lady was pulling out of her parking place. Halfway through the process, she saw me in her rearview mirror. She then proceeded to lock her door, then roll up her window the remaining 1-inch it was open. What was I going to do, suck you through the crack of the window and steal your Caddy in a teeming parking lot? I was in high school at the time, and I looked like an old lady could probably beat me up and steal my car. It’s just the fear of the young black male that permeates society.

Granted, there are some obvious reasons for this, but next time you find yourself in a situation whether you are white, black, old, or young, and can do something to better it please do your part in doing so. That’s what I’ll be doing, sitting on the bus in Finland, possibly the most non-Black country I’ve ever been in. I’ll be the one smiling. Come have a seat. For my next theory, I will research the “Oh My God, The Black Guy On The Bus Is Getting Off At My Stop! I Hope He Walks The Other Way…” Theory. Feel free to post your comments on our message board or hit us up through gmail.