I was just starting as a writing fellow at the Houston Press - my first ever full-time writing gig. I was not introduced around the office. There was no email notice of my arrival, so not everyone knew my face. https://twitter.com/jnthnwll/status/1265297633704382466

After work one day that first week, I went to the parking lot and got in my car to drive home. An old Honda Accord. As I drove toward the street, a young white woman blocked my car, T-bone fashion. I of course had no idea what was going on.

“You’re stealing my friend’s car,” she said rather emotionally. Boldly! This was of course impossible. I got in the car with my keys. Turned the engine with my keys. Bought the car with my parents’ money (haha). So I was...I was in a state of shock.

The woman was adamant and would not move. A superhero defeating criminal me! With no regard for her own safety! I’m fuzzy on how she came to her senses. Somehow I convinced her that I was in fact her coworker. And she realized that her friend drove a green Civic, not an Accord.

At least she was embarrassed. There were no repercussions though. The next day I told my editor what happened and was paraded around the office and introduced. The new black guy! Maybe a new policy was put in place. All new employees had to be introduced. So yeah.