Clive Gets Woke, Part I

When Clive was nineteen years old he graduated from high school, it had taken him five years, but he would not become a fool. He’d seen why not two years prior when is brother John had gang-banged and was shot down in an alley, not found until his corpse stank. The same fate had met his father back when he was a baby, and despite all the evidence his mother cried,”Conspiracy!” Clive would not allow himself to be subjected to the same end, if high school brought a crummy job then he would work, unlike his friends. So he set out that summer day wearing the best clothes that he owned, and went about from place to place, to all types of shops did he go. Most of them were not hiring despite the strong economy, a restauranteur even said, “I wish I could help you buddy. “But the city raised base wages to fifteen dollars an hour, I had to fire all but two, and I still can’t pay the power!” Frustrated, Clive started on home, when he walked part a fast food joint, and what he saw at the counter made the young man rather annoyed. A Latino man took the orders, so Clive asked,”What is your pay?” The man looked nervous, then he choked, “Sorry senior, no anglaise!” Clive was pretty furious when he reached his mother’s flat, she sighed deep, then she just clucked, “Didn’t I warn you about that? “They’re all looking to keep us down, they like seeing our people wrecked. We’ll go to welfare tomorrow, see about getting you a check.” Clive’s fury then boiled over, and a hot raged marred up his face, he balled his fist and seethed out loud, “Now let me get this all straight...