Short Stories

Misconception

Word on the street,

a black Man is in town.

Who is he looking for?

What does he want?

Curious minds chatter

trying to network

to find an answer

with consensus.

Oh! he makes first contact

with one of the ladies

and it is assumed

he is a womanizer.

A bad impression is spread;

plans to kick him out begins.

He leaves the following day

and words spread again

that the black man

was kicked out

for womanizing.

Without bothering to verify

curious minds find an answer

but in reality

he was just a lost black Man

looking for direction

in China town

and asked the lady

who alone understood English.

Happy Eid al–Fitr to our Muslim friends.

24 thoughts on “Misconception”

  2. I would offer another perception…This is just a thought that went through my head as I read this.
    The voices of suspicion talked to the black man as he walked through the unknown world looking around. He could only imagine what the people around him were thinking. When in reality he was no more than an oddity to the scores of people of which a black man was a rare sight at most, who was forgotten just as soon as he left and never given a second thought because there are lives to be lived.
    Just a thought Emmanuel…different views bring enlightenment. Peace be with you.

  3. spot on….lordy…absolutely bang on…i have lived in this place and saw the bigotry first hand…as always you have a great way of putting over such tough subjects…well done…pete

  6. I appreciate the issue you address of misconception
    I also appreciate the delivery – poignant
    I can see the pain etched on his face

    Lovely for One Shot

    smiles always from the Moon

  7. Bias is what drives us and this society crazy!! Your poem reminds me of a scene from this TV series “Lost”, where William (one of the characters) asks something in English to Sun (another character in the series).. and how Sun’s husband misinterprets the situation!
    Alas, we shall never rid ourselves of this skeptic and suspicious nature of ours… (sigh)
    A cool poem telling this sad tale, Em..

  11. Lol, this poem gave me the giggles,

    Liking the flow, and the layout.

    Great punchline at the end n_n

  14. this was brilliant emmanuel. ha ha! just loved the climax. poor guy. it sounds so like indian society too. 🙂

    i guess its the human syndrome irrelevant of country or society.

  15. A lifetime of trying to put my belief in no more prejudice in place has not assuaged the situation. The fear of strangers seems to flow through the genes; the need to huddle in clans, cliques, and clubs grows stronger. Perhaps this hideous quality of the human beast is just a psychological insecurity that stems from having been prey to larger animals but with education and with some enlightenment, I continue to pray for it to go away. Thanks for a strong work that shows that need.
    Gay @beachanny

  19. beautiful description of misconceptions.
    a segment of information certainly could not tell all..
    a past error could not demonstrate the whole story as well…
    thanks for the inspirations.

  20. EM

    Perhaps you did not intend this —but it made my heart ache for who in the end is really the “Lost” soul, the man seeking understanding in life or those in denial?

    evocative and profound statement.

    cheers,
    joanny

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