My walk to work is about 20 minutes, up one street and through 3 distinct neighborhoods. In most ways it’s a perfect place to walk because there are always things to see that inspire new thinking and feeling before my day really even begins. The walk helps me wake up since I sleep until the last possible minute. Sometimes I leave without even having looked at myself in the mirror. The only real danger there is toothpaste lips and eye guck.

I see these little black kids waiting for the school bus in front of the housing projects they live in. They have brightly colored backpacks and are loud and happy. They’re jumping and spinning, pushing and laughing. To them the world must be one big joke.