This is my personal story which I experienced in 2016. I came to visit the US for holidays. I traveled from Pakistan to England & after a short stay at my sister’s house for 3 days I landed at Los Angeles, CA. I had booked a Hotel & reached the Hotel late night. I slept there till morning and took breakfast down in the Hall with other guests.
I was at Los Angeles for 4 nights before moving to Hawaii for a week. I planned to search the LA according to my planned program. I had a bank card & cash in British Pounds and US Dollars in my pocket.
I did not know before that you need exact change to ride on a metro bus. I rode the bus from 7th Street Downtown LA to Farmer’s Market. I asked the driver of the bus for 2 tickets, one for me & one for my wife. He told me to pay $5.00. I searched the pocket & found 4 one dollar notes and I also had 10, 20 Dollar Notes too. The driver said me to pay exact $5.00 but I asked him to take a $10 note but he refused to take it and asked me to bring exact amount to board on the bus.
I was much puzzled at that moment as I wanted to ride the bus to reach at my destination at exact time. So I asked the driver again to take the $10 note and told him I reached the LA from London last night & do not have further change. There were few more persons waiting to ride the bus behind me. All of a sudden a hand came from nowhere and put the $1.00 note along with my $4.00 to make it $5.00 and yelled to the driver to give the 2 tickets to me.
I looked back & found a Black Man standing behind the person next to me. The Bus Driver gave me 2 tickets & I moved further behind towards the seats and could find 2 seat at the far end of the bus. The Black Man also sat somewhere in front of the bus. After a few stops the Black Man I kept on watching, suddenly disappeared.
I was feeling guilty to all this what happened and looked around to find the Black Man but did not. I was thankful to him who saved my time & ordeal I was facing. I just wanted to say Thank You to him & return his $1.00 but I was much surprised that he disappeared.
I kept on searching for that Black Man during my stay at LA who was no doubt a very kind & generous to me. I wanted to give back his $1.00 to him. I could not find him during my 4 nights stay at LA.
I left LA after staying for 4 nights at that Downtown Hotel but this was carved in my heart that A Black Man helped me at the time of need without knowing me.
I will remain indebted to that Black Man & would always try to accomodate any Black Man for the rest of my life. Black Men & Women are Gems of the US Society. Black Lives Matter at lot to those who understand them, Black people are Kind Hearted people.
Malik Awan
206–788–7476
mmalik963@gmail.com
8519-Midvale Ave N, Unit B, Seattle, Washington 98103
