"No one even cares about black people's rights anymore. How many Black Lives Matter rallies even
happen
anymore? And when they do, people don't even attend. I was at one last week and it was pretty much a ghost town." Janelle told me as we were walking to our
Humanities
class at Ridgeside College.
I had to admit, she had a point. Not that I agreed that people just stopped caring about black folks' lives and rights, but there were so many other atrocities happening every day, it was hard to focus on one over another.
"Even supposed
woke
people like you! I haven't seen you going to any rally's lately."
"Yeah, I know. I've been busy with classes and I've been going to Planned Parenthood rallies and Free Palestine rallies on some weekends. I can only be in so many places at once, but you're right. I need to do better." I replied, a hint of guilt in my voice.
"I'm only half joking, Bryce. I know you still care, but get out there a bit more. Us black folks need the support of you
good
white people." She said, nudging into me playfully. "There's another next weekend about a half hour drive from here. It supposed to be pretty big... Well as big as any BLM rally is now." She said with an eye roll.
"Of course I'll go. Is it a date then?" I said, smiling slyly at her.
"You know I don't date white boys. But if I did, you'd be the first to know." She said smiling again. "But yeah we'll go together."
If I'm being honest, I don't really enjoy going to rallies. I first started going to BLM rallies specifically to get closer to Janelle, but after almost 4 years of friendship, she still didn't want to give a white boy like me a chance. She said she strictly dated other black folks because "no offense" as she said, white boys just couldn't compare.
Of course she was talking about dick size, what else could she mean? But I thought that was rude and a stereotype anyway. Not all black guys had massive horse cocks, as portrayed in pop culture and pornography. And not all white guys had small shriveled things between their legs. In fact, I was a little above average, just about 6 inches when erect. But conversations like that always fucked with my self esteem and made me feel inadequate.
The weekend came quickly and after a short drive, me and Janelle pulled up to a... Incredibly small gathering.
"This is it?!" She said incredulously. "They said this mother fucker was gonna be big. Now I'm pissed. No one ever shows, like I was telling you before."
"Eh, maybe everyone's just late." I said, trying to sound positive.
We walked to the group of people and Janelle started talking to a couple. There was a big black dude with an afro in the group, and it seemed like she knew him, or
wanted
to know him.
She turned to me and introduced me to the all black group. "This is Bryce, he's one of the good ones."
Everyone told me their names, which I knew I would soon forget. The huge black dude with the afro walked over and shook my hand. Now I'm not a short guy, just above 6 feet actually, but this guy was towering over me, he must have been at least 6'6".
"What's up brother? Good to see a white boy respecting the cause. I'm Tyrell." His voice was deep and gravely.
"Of course man, I think everyone should respect the cause. Sucks to see there are so few people here." I replied, shaking his hand. He gripped my hand incredibly firmly and I tried to squeeze back the same amount. But this dude was huge not only in height, he was incredibly muscular. I'm sure he could have squeezed my hand right off if he wanted.
He noticed me trying to match his hand grip and cracked a smile, "I respect the hustle."
The rest of the rally was pretty boring. Me and Janelle stood on the sidewalk holding one of the signs she had made years before. After a few hours some people began to leave and me and Janelle decided it was time for us to go as well.
As we were getting in the car, Tyrell jogged up. "Yo I need more white friends. You seem cool, let me get your number, maybe we can hang out some time."
"Sure, of course." I said, telling him my number that he put in his phone.
"What the fuck was that?!" Janelle said a few minutes after we pulled away. "I spent the whole goddamn rally trying to get that mother fuckers attention and he wants
your
number? This is some bullshit."
I let out a laugh, "well, he said he needed more white friends. I guess you don't fit the bill."
"You better talk me up to him."
"If he calls me, I'll try." I said, feeling a spasm of hurt in my chest. I knew Janelle would never see me as anything more than a friend, and it hurt.
A few weeks went by and I had pretty much forgot about the rally and giving Tyrell my number, but suddenly I got a text message.
Yo what up, man? It's Tyrell. We should hit up a bar tonight and chill.
What's up, Tyrell? Sounds good, just let me know the address and time and I'll be there.
I sort of felt awkward meeting someone I barely knew, but I had always been a good and charismatic talker, so I wasn't too worried.
I told Janelle about it later that day.
"I should totally show up." She said.