I'm prepared to get flamed for this, and though I believe everyone is entitled to be offended at whatever they feel offended by, I think those of you crying racism are missing the point. The point of the joke is that she wasn't being racist, that she was afraid of the dude because he was a dude acting shady while she was walking home at night. The reason the joke is so poignant is that the man, being a man with male privilege, doesn't understand the fear that many (I'd even say most) women have when passing a man on the street alone at night. He doesn't understand that we are conditioned to fear rape, with the constant flood of "carry your keys in your hand, don't talk on the phone, don't listen to your ipod, be aware, don't wear a ponytail they can grab," etc. So the man, not understanding just how terrifying his pacing around in an alley would be to a woman, no matter what race he is, goes ahead and assumes that she's a racist.

I've had a few of those "here's your rape!!" feelings. I live in an extremely large city and walk home from work alone at night very often. There is always fear but occasionally a man will say or do something that makes my blood run cold and my head feel light. It's a very distinct, primal feeling, like icy water has been poured down my back. Once it was when a group of men passed and asked if I'd come home with them. Another time was when a man in an alley near a drug store I was leaving said "I'd fuck you so hard" like it was a threat. I want to throw up just thinking about it. Men of the world, it has nothing to do with you as a person or your race. Please don't be offended. I was sexually assaulted by a friend. We have literally no way of knowing who the man who wants to hurt us is going to be. Someone downthread mentioned this, but it bears repeating. There is no expression of gratitude great enough to express how I feel when a man purposely crosses to the opposite side of the street instead of walking by me or nods at me kindly when I'm walking home. It's like saying "my desire to make you feel safe is worth a slight inconvenience."