I took a different route home from work yesterday. Usually I take the interstate, but due to traffic I couldn’t get over into the left lane so I ended up going past it and taking NW 10th home instead. 10th street is probably the closest thing to a ghetto on this side of town that I know of.
While driving down 10th street yesterday I saw a black couple (probably in their early 20’s or so) arguing. Right before I passed them, the man punched the lady in the face and she instantly fell down. Then he started kicking her.
I was so completely shocked by what I saw that I just kind of stopped in the middle of the road. When I realized there were cars behind me I pulled off the road and started to do a U-turn. By the time I had turned around the young man had crossed the street and joined two other young black men. The girl began to stand up and started walking back toward the run down apartments just off the roadway.
I’m not sure why I turned around. Had I got out of my car I’m sure the man would have kicked my ass up and down 10th street (that is, if he hadn’t shot me first). There was really no sense in calling 911 as the entire incident was over in seconds and both parties walked away. Still, I couldn’t help but to watch the action unfold, even though the entire incident left me feeling a bit helpless.