His Nightmare Job

I often saw this young man, mid-20s, walk by the coffee shop I frequented. If I looked free, he’d stop and chat during his breaks. He worked less than just a 1-minute walk away. 

While he did not look thrilled, I discerned that he was a hopeful person of principle and also conscious of his African American story. We connected. 

He was conscious enough that his job at the payday loan service felt like a compromise. It was as though he was a decent person lured into criminal activity, which in fact, in a sense, it was. 

I haven’t seen him in a couple of years now. I hope he continues his studies and generates income in a way that is not burdensome. Isn’t it troubling that earning unethical money can be perfectly legal?