This sounds like a beginning of an inappropriate joke but it isn't. It was just an interesting experience.
Three black guys who don't know each other walk into a grocery store. They give each other a knowing glance and the customary head nod. Two are wearing N95 masks. One is not.
As they get their produce, the two masked men silently speak to one another with their eyes. "I'm glad I'm not the only Black guy up in here with a mask and gloves on," they both say wordlessly. And then they go their separate ways.
A little while later, they see each other again on another aisle. On this aisle, another different black guy who works at the store looks at them. He is wearing a mask too. Silently he communicates, "I know, right?" A few aisles later the two masked shoppers see each other again. But one of them takes his mask off and telepathically communicates to the last masked shopper, "I can't do it bruh." Not only are they minorites in the conventional sense, they also are some of the few people wearing masks in the store despite the Governor's guidance for face coverings in public spaces.
Now the remaining masked man is left wondering if he should take his off to. But nevertheless he persists.
As they are leaving, the three men find themselves at different registers at the same self-checkout section. Now two are unasked and one is not. They look at each other again. Finally one of them gives voice to the nonverbal conversation they've been having the whole time. "Man you better take off that mask and take your chances with Corona. You're going to mess around and get yourself shot around here." All three men laugh with the kind of laugh only common to those with shared experience. The tension breaks and the man who is still masked says, "I'm not even going to lie. As soon as I put this mask on to come in here, I started thinking 'now grocery shopping is two times the risk." The previously masked man says, "Yup." and shakes his head in agreement as he laughs. The man who was never masked says to the last masked man standing, "I know you did. You know how it is." https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10222184841478376&id=1484349393?sfnsn=mo
