How to Make Money

“Ok people this is how it’s going to work.” Shouted a large black man as he stepped into the T I was riding home from work. Being from ghost white suburbia I started to get nervous. “You are about to see one black man dance on a moving train, if you like clap, if don’t like clap, if you really like it show me some love and make a donation!” He held up his back pack and pressed play on his portable boom-box. A Michael Jackson song from the ‘80’s came on and he walked forward and did a no handed back flip.

People clapped, “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” he yelled as he prepared to flip his body between two of the guard poles in the car. He then proceeded to more dance tricks including holding his entire body about an inch off the ground and “walk” up and down the car. He put on a good show of various move usually only seen on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

As we slowed to enter the next station he stopped dancing, everyone applauded and gave him some cash. I handed him a five dollar bill thinking if you are willing to put your face that close to the floor of the T you must really need money.