This right here is some non-sense and that is the only reason I am sharing this story. My family tries it best to support neighborhood stores. It was a Friday and I asked my mom to go to Family Dollar with me. Family Dollar is a discount store and it looks like it. Sometimes they are not the most organized of places, but I needed some simple trays and bowls for an event that was going to happen that evening. It was a simple run in, run out and move to the next task of the day.
She and I parked, go in and we are greeted with the loud-speaker message from security basically letting us know that security is watching. That should have made us turn around, but we were in the hood and things like that are part of hood living. No problem.
We go in find the trays and something for the grandkids and as me and mom were walking toward the front of the store we here something. My mom hears the security guy over the speaker ask if everything is okay. I heard that too, but I also heard some commotion. It sound like people talking loud and aggressive. My mom did not hear that.
She and I got in line and I saw that everyone was looking to the back of the store. That is where I heard the loud talking from. No one seemed to be leaving the store, but you can see everyone was on alert. From the back came these two guys. You can tell they were trouble. I started praying inside but on the outside you stay stone-faced. Everyone did.
The guys asked the cashier a question and then they kind of got in the face of a young customer. Of course, the youngster acted like he was big and bad. The two guys left. We all knew that was not the end.
Everyone started talking. I was hoping that the staff would lock the door, but they continued to work as though nothing happens. I see the two guys get in the car and sit. They sat for three or four minutes before the put the car and reverse to take off. It was a slow reverse and the next thing I know I see a gun come out of the window and shot into the air. They then took off. Most of us stood there probably with the same thought. You can’t even go to the corner store without ignorant acts happening. This isn’t just a hood problem it is an American disease to feel empowered to take life with guns. To feel its your right to carry danger on your hip. To resort to violence when things do not go our way. We have told these young people in the way we treat them and limit opportunity is that the only way you will be empowered is through violence and terrorizing. It’s on the news and in our entertainment. That has to stop.
From a city perspective, that nonsense is why people are scared of Detroit and its people. It made me mad and sad at the same time. It is a shame that anyone in the world live in danger like that. It is maddening that the staff at this location is use to such danger. It has become “normal.” It’s nothing normal about it.
