Cliffs:
I was punched in the side of the head this afternoon while commuting home.
I was reading and not paying attention.
Lesson learned: be situationally aware.

Details: Most of what I know is from witnesses who told me after the fact. I only experienced being hit and turning around in time to see the teenager sprinting out of the car. I was sitting near the center of the train reading a book when a black teenager moved from the back of the car to the seat immediately behind me. Two stops prior to my own, he punched me in the side of the head, pretty much directly on my ear. My ear rang for about 30 seconds, but I didn't experience any lasting hearing loss and now I only have a dull ache. Metro police were waiting at the next stop and I filed a report with the help of a witness who saw everything. Cameras on the train also recorded everything.

Out of about 25 people on the train, I was the only white person. All others were black. I suspect this is why I was targeted, but I really don't know. The girl next to me seemed unfazed by the incident and never said a word to me. Others around me were shocked and concerned by what happened. One man, who saw the whole thing, got off the train with me to assist in the police report. He seemed greatly saddened by the event.

I've only been riding the train for two months since switching jobs. I have apparently been too trusting of other people and have learned a valuable lesson: maintain situational awareness. I was sitting in the center of the train with my head down. From now on I'll adopt a more defensive position and maintain a better awareness of the people around me. I'm also going to carry a knife (wouldn't have helped me today since I wasn't paying attention and the guy ran away anyway) in case I'm attacked by someone more determined to continue the attack. I wish I could carry a gun, but, you know, DC laws.

Metro sucks bruh.. could have told you that

Yeah. Unfortunately the alternative is paying $25/day to park near my office building.

rayciss!

Thats impossible OP only white people are racist.

You probably had a threatening demeanor that infringed on civil liberties

Unfortunate event out of your control.

Wtf at carrying a gun as a result of that though? You going to shoot the guy running away after punching your ear?

Even worse case...what if you're not paying attention and he grabs your gun and shoots you?...

Fukking lol at what happened. I can picture some dude just sitting there getting punched in the ear.
Take it as a cheap lesson and move on. Stand near the corner/end of the train with your back against the wall.

Why did you feel the need to bring race into this

Some guy came into my work and the entire car was robbed at Anacostia. Everyone gave up their iPhones, wallets and money. This was in the morning too just about 2 years ago.

Why not?
Obvious hate crime..
Imagine if the races were reversed...oh lawd

Because you want the dude who punched OP to fist your wife right?

I stated in the OP that a weapon would not have helped in that situation. Of course I wouldn't have shot as he ran away. However, being attacked made me aware of my vulnerability. It would be nice to be able to carry a weapon to use as a last resort against a determined attacker.

Race is the most plausible reason I can think of for why I was targeted. The teenager was at one end of the car and passed over a dozen people to attack me. I was the only non-black person on the train. However, as stated in the OP, the people who helped me afterward, most notably the man who witnessed to the police, were also black. I have no ill will toward black people, but I do think it is likely that this attack was racially motivated.

I used to work in Anacostia. Dangerous area for sure.

Be aware at all times OP. The few times I've taken public transport I keep my back to something and watch everyone. I don't trust strangers and I don't like big crowds.

It could have been much worse. Youf of peace. Dindu muffin.

you're lucky in some ways..if it was motivated by gang initiation things could have been a lot worse

Why did you feel the need to complain about an obvious race thing?

Yeah. I'm also very thankful that I didn't suffer any hearing or vision loss from it. I've heard of people being sucker punched that had permanent damage.

Which area of the Metro did this happen? SE?

I had cabbies refuse to bring me to the Marine Barracks in South East DC I would have to get in the cab tell them another spot and then pretend like I had a change of plans...even then some would pull over and say sorry but no.

This was in 2005 and 2006...I would be out at at the bars and I would always have trouble getting back.

*smack*

you only mention race when black is the victim and white is the attacker. Should I send you back to fake news school again?

Southern Ave stop of the green line. In Maryland just outside SE DC.

That sucks OP. Damn shame this is what it's come to. Knowing your exits and seated facing the door is now the norm.

Invest in some self defense brah. And sit with your back to a wall with optimal visibility to the exit.

About ten years ago I was walking past a 7/11 and a group of urban youths said "hey mane can you go into da shop and buy us a 40 ?" I replied "No - sorry" and kept on walking.... to which the cockiest one replied "why not cracker?"

and I replied..

"because i'm a cop"


All i heard was "sheeeeit" and they all ran away....

I used the exact same tactic again a few years later in a similar predicament.

Anyway that sucks op, but it is life... and there are plenty more where he came from.

Let me see. You claim not to be situationally aware but you know you were the only white guy on the train?

This would shake me up badly and probably cause me hyper-vigilance/anxiety for a while at least.

Stay safe, OPHe probably noticed before he sat down engrossed in his book, agenda much?

After I was punched I looked around the train. Situational awareness isn't a permanent attribute. It is something that can be gained or lost. I didn't have it when I was reading, but I quickly got it after I was attacked.

nah, forget about it. You are ok. Dont give the guy the satisfaction of changing your life. let the police handle it and move on man.

I will do both. Today I learned a valuable lesson and I'm glad the price I paid was so low. As TheBateman said, it could have been a lot worse.

I lived in Nortyh philly for 6 years which is basically like Detroit, bad sections of baltimore, etc. One of top worst places in the country. My room mate was shot one year, had double digit friends held at gunpoint, seen people beat to **** for being white. One year a girl got her teeth knocked out by hoodlums by throwing a brick at her face.

Bottom line is scum is scum. Paying attention goes a long way, but these animals will still sneak up on you if they need to. If you dont have to take the train, dont. If you can park for $$$, do it its worth it not to deal with the bottom of society.

I made a thread about a month ago about when I was sucker punched whole not looking. I managed to turn around and best the piss out of the guy tho.

I feel you man it's genuinely pretty scary and consider yourself lucky nothing major happened to you. My buddy got sucker punched a few days after I did and still has his broken jaw wired shut. It's a crazy world.