I was having the most awful commute in the world. It was 2 a.m. and I was waiting for the 4 train on the 59th Street and Lexington Avenue station and had just missed my train by a second. As I was waiting, I was already uncomfortable because there was almost no one on the platform and the few people that were waiting were all men.
I suddenly heard this guy say, “I like white women.” I ignored it as usual because there are always crazy people saying all kinds of thing in the subway. I wasn’t sure if it was directed towards me. Then I heard it again and noticed that a guy is looking straight at me and saying this and is coming closer. He finally says, “I don’t like your kind..” (FYI, I’m brown).
Being a temperamental New Yorker, I wanted to deck him in the face for being racist. However, I held back and before I could take out my cell phone to record this (a tip I learned from hollaback). He stopped and then started back again.
Fearing that it might escalate (although I stayed calm and just didn’t pay him any attention hoping he would go away) I decided to just cab it home. My safety is worth more than a $25 cab ride.
What was really scary has been the hate crime against brown people after 9/11. I was panicking what if this guy pushes me onto the tracks because I’m brown (which happened a few months ago and the victim died). This sort of behavior is unacceptable. And if the guy was mentally ill or had some issues, he needs to get treated before he causes chaos in public. I wish I took a picture, but I will be more prepared if this happens to me again. Just in case, he was an older Latino man wearing a denim cap and a plaid jacket. His skin was light brown and he had light brown eyes. Probably in his 50s.
– Queenie
Location: 59th Street & Lexington Avenue 4 train stop, New York City
