They didn't look like racists

I was standing outside Walgreen’s at Howard and Western, campaigning for 50th Ward Alderman in 1983, when I noticed two scruffy looking people lurking along a wall behind me.

At the time, I thought they might have been homeless people because they were wearing overcoats that didn’t fit them. The sleeves were too long, buttons were missing, and one had cigarette burns on the lapel.

I wondered where they came from. I didn’t think there were any homeless people in the 50th ward.

Then, one of them approached me and politely asked, “What will you do to keep niggers out of the neighborhood?”

Everybody within earshot stopped. One person started looking through her purse as if searching for something. Another bent over to untie and retie his shoe. One other rearranged the bags he was carrying.

I had to make a split-second decision. Was the guy who questioned me a racist or just an unsophisticated person? So, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and explained my housing policy.

He replied, “That’s nice. But what will you do to keep niggers out?”

I told him, “You can’t tell people where to live” and I just turned away from him. Listeners then continued walking.

A week later I saw the guy again and when he came up to me he thanked me for having talked to him. I was relieved he didn’t ask me another question.