Specifically because I live in a hot climate, I’m always fighting the feeling of being suspicious of anybody I pass in the streets with a hoodie pulled up. I feel guilty because of racial profiling associated with hoodies, but gotta protect myself and my family, especially because in many cases the perpetrators of assault and murder seen in media are somebody with a hood and/or mask on.
I remember as a kid I locked the door to the car whenever someone would walk by. Most people don’t really notice or care but once a black guy walked by and I didn’t know about the racist connotation, so I just did what I always did and was devastated when I could see that I really hurt the guy’s feelings. I stopped doing it after that, now I just give a little friendly wave or smile. I’m still as overly cautious, but I’d rather get stabbed to death than make someone feel like that ever again.