Late in the evening, I drove downtown to finish up some work that I was too tired to complete earlier during the day. I had to drive around for a while before I found a metered parking spot on New Montgomery Street. There was a construction board on the sidewalk beside my spot, and I read it several times to confirm that I was not violating any rules. San Francisco is known to have very hefty parking fines, and I did not want to add another bill to my already big pile of household bills.

I started walking south and was just a few feet away from the turn onto Market Street when I saw the three people- two men and one woman- turn into New Montgomery Street. The woman was a few feet behind the men, dragging a large and seemingly heavy suitcase behind her. One of the men was wearing some shells and a little African cap. Just as I was about to cross them, the man with the shells and African cap turned around, hurried up to the woman and grabbed the suitcase from her hand. The woman was visibly relieved.

“Ya’ll just got your first rains today ?” the man asked.

That’s when I saw his face. Paul Mooney ! The outrageously funny comedian featured in Dave Chappelle’s Ask-a-Black-Dude series. Paul Mooney, who had some of the funniest responses to people on the streets asking all kind of questions about black people on Dave Chappelle’s Show on Comedy Central.

Ask A Black Dude - by Paul Mooney

At first I didn’t believe it. I stood there frozen, while they walked by me. Then I turned around and shouted “Hey….”.

Paul Mooney turned around towards me, while the other black man and the woman were trying to see where the shout came from. I didn’t know what to say or do next. Paul Mooney looked at me staring at him, realized what was going on, and gave me a “I-know-you-know-who-I-am-Trust-me-I-get-people-like-you-all-the-time-so-carry-on’ look.

Then – for a fleeting moment – he smiled. I turned and walked away. So did he.

That was all I needed really. The look and smile of acknowledgment for the fan.

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