“I became an expert in the language of fear. Couples locked arms or reached for each others’ hands when they saw me. Some crossed to the other side of the street. People who were on conversations went mute and stared straight ahead, as though avoiding my eyes would save them... I’d been walking the streets grinning good evening at people who were frightened to death of me. I did violence to them by just being – Brent Staples.”
