Tonight on “Now, If That Was A Black Person…”

A local dummy tries to open the exit door of an Amtrak train while en route to Chicago. A conductor races from another car like a linebacker in pursuit of a sack, startling passengers and screaming, “Get off the train!”

He yells again, “Get off the train.”

All eyes zoom-in on a tall, flushed face white man with a grey beard. The man is allowed to walk through the car, passed his seat/belongings to the next exit door—conductor still yelling, “No, who told you to open the door?!!” and then, “Go sit down.”

The man walks back to his seat in the middle of the car. The conductor addresses the train on the intercom to make it “undoubtedly clear” that there will not be any stops for smoke breaks.

I know what you’re thinking: All this commotion for a smoke break?

Another conductor of higher rank than the last comes and sits down near the man—who is still red in the face. The conductor asks the man if he is alright. They chat and chuckle more before the conductor tells them man, not to worry about it and gets up back to his other duties.

I wonder how differently this story would’ve played out if this man was Black.

Can you guess the race of the train conductors? Do you think race played a role in the ending?

—Sincerely, Tyra

P.S. Can you tell that I’m salty because they woke me up from some good sleep? 😒

P.S.S. Twenty minutes later the original conductor gets back on the intercom and addresses the passengers: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to have a slight delay, so against my better judgement, I’m going to allow people to step off the train for a smoke break.” 😒😒

#ThisIsAmerica