A Confrontation with Prejudice at DFW Airport

It was just another day at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, or so I thought. As I sat in the cramped lounge of Terminal E, the only available spot in sight, I witnessed an incident that would ignite my sense of justice and challenge my own self-control.
An elderly Black man, easily in his 70s, approached the lounge counter seeking a cup of coffee. The manager, a younger man with an air of authority, curtly informed him that they didn’t sell coffee there. This struck me as odd, given that I had just seen another patron fill a mug with what was unmistakably coffee.
The older gentleman, understandably confused, questioned the manager’s statement. In response, the manager brusquely instructed him to step outside, punctuating his command by slapping the wall as he exited. The elderly man left, dejected, only to return about 15 minutes later.
I tried to mind my own business, but the injustice of the situation made my blood boil. Against my better judgment, I decided to intervene. Channeling my inner “Karen,” I requested to speak with the manager, only to discover that the wall-slapper was, in fact, the manager himself.
Confronting him, I called out his behavior as unacceptable. When he attempted to defend his actions, my anger got the better of me. In a moment of heated emotion, I threatened physical violence, suggesting we “take it outside.”
It wasn’t until later, while watching a video for my law program about assault and battery, that I realized the gravity of my actions. I had technically committed assault, even though no physical contact occurred.
Fortunately, the situation de-escalated. The manager apologized, and I didn’t have to file a formal complaint or jeopardize his job. More importantly, I avoided legal trouble myself.
This experience served as a stark reminder that racial bias and prejudice are very real, even in seemingly mundane settings. It also taught me a valuable lesson about controlling my own reactions, no matter how justified my anger might feel.
We must stand up against discrimination, but we must do so within the bounds of the law and civil discourse. Having a bad day is no excuse for mistreating anyone, especially not our elders or people of color.