See Me, Hear Me, Know Me

When Right Goes Wrong

On the day of the food truck festival, it’s a sunny, brisk morning. Makena dons jeans and her “Black Girls Rule” sweatshirt, with a crocheted scarf from Gran. Makena bikes to Anacostia Park with Mom, Dad, and Amari, taking a longer route so they can pass Cedar Hill, the house on W Street where Frederick Douglass once lived. Makena remembers learning about him on a family tour before the pandemic: born into slavery, Douglass escaped and became a speaker and activist around the Civil War, and was once the most photographed American, even more than President Lincoln, always dressed sharply to show the world a free, dignified Black man.

By the time they reach the park, the festival is already crowded with food trucks, a flea market, and a band setting up near the community center. Uncle Alex’s Cruisin’ Cook truck draws a long line, jazz spilling from its speakers. Mom lets Makena wait nearby for Najee, who arrives joking about cutting the line. Instead of waiting to eat, the two decide to go check out the music together.

Crossing the grass, Makena notices a little red-headed girl standing alone on the path, no older than three. It reminds her of the time Amari got separated from Mom in a store and froze, too frightened to make a sound. Najee kneels and gently coaxes the girl, whose name is Lexi, into admitting she’s lost, then scoops her up so they can search the crowd for her parents, peeking playfully from his hoodie to keep her calm.

A White woman notices Najee holding Lexi and immediately assumes the worst. She clutches her purse and demands to know where he’s taking the child. Makena tries to explain that they’re only helping, but the woman ignores her, aiming every accusation at Najee.

A park ranger rolls up on a scooter and questions the woman, who stammers before falsely claiming Najee was dragging Lexi away. Before he can press further, Lexi’s mother comes sprinting up, gathers her daughter into her arms, and thanks both Makena and Najee for keeping her safe. The ranger tells the woman plainly that the kids only helped, and she leaves without another word.

Once the woman is out of sight, Makena asks Najee what that was about. He answers quietly that it’s living while being Black. Makena thinks of the two White girls from the Cherry Blossoms checkout line, and realizes the woman behaved just like them; she saw only what she expected to see, not what was actually there.