Some years back, I was walking with a woman I used to date.

Another black guy approached.

I nodded at him, he nodded. We passed.

My woman looked at me, asked, “Do you know him?”

“Nope,” I said.

“Explain,” she said.

Here goes…..

Pretty much every Black guy (with a few quirky exceptions) has adopted what is commonly known as the “Black Nod.”

We don’t generally nod at Black Women (most have no idea what the nod means – sorry) and to balance this out, we NEVER nod at White guys either.

Sorry, but that’s just the way it is. I didn’t make the rules.

I’ve lived in my current town for quite a long time. When I first got here, it wasn’t very racially diverse. I nodded at the only other black man here at the time.

Maybe I was just happy to see him.

At least if I got hassled by the police, he was going to be as well.

Solidarity.

In the past, I’ve been in pubs and nightclubs at the same time as this person.

We have never spoken. That’s not the point.

It’s a nod of extremely vague brotherhood, which I’m pretty sure wouldn’t help me if I cut him up at the lights, but it is what it is.

There are a few black guys who haven’t mastered The Nod.

One person may nod, and be left hanging.

This can be likened to your wife leaving you, and taking every games console and PC game in the house with her.

You’re going to miss playing those video games…..

Anyway, the next time you see two Black Dudes nodding at each other, bear in mind they could be complete strangers.

And probably are…..

Copyright © Mark A. McPherson 2019.

All rights reserved.