Former NBA Player Shares Story of Racist Amtrak Passenger

In his now viral post, former NBA player Etan Thomas says woman didn't want him to sit next to her on a train because he's black.

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Complex Original

If the option presents itself, almost everyone would want to sit by themselves in a two-seater on the train or bus. But, oftentimes public transit gets packed enough that people need to make exceptions. One woman found herself in that same situation and still couldn't find it in her heart to let an African-American man sit next to her.

On Friday, former NBA player Etan Thomas, who spent a majority of his career with the Washington Wizards, shared a post on Facebook detailing his experience on a train when he tried to take one of the few remaining open seats next to a white woman. Thomas went as far as to ask her politely and even "soften his voice as to not frighten her," yet she claimed that someone was already occupying the seat. However, as it turns out, when a white male approached her with the same request—surprise, surprise—the seat was now vacant. Considering how clearly disrespectful she was to him, Thomas handled the entire ordeal with class.

The best part, though, came when the woman threatened to get the conductor after the nine-year veteran informed her that he was going to share his experience on social media.

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