Insert Cuckoo Clock Sound Effect Here

So I was walking to work from the subway this morning when a woman turned to me and said “Excuse me?” Thinking she was going to ask directions, I stopped.

In a Caribbean accent she said, “Did you know that Black people can use a wind… I’m not Black by the way,” she said gesturing to herself. She was most definitely Black. She started over: “Did you know that Black people… you know how Spanish people can turn into a snake? Black people can use a wind,” here she made an upward spiraling tornado gesture and repeated, “use a wind to take off the roof of a house.”

I was kind of stunned for a second. She didn’t look homeless or like a crazy person. I rubbed my chin, said “Hmm!” in what I hoped was an interested way, and moved on.