Ralph Angel Gets Himself Laid Off—on Purpose

Technically, Ralph Angel is a free man. Like many formerly incarcerated black men, however, he faces challenges on a daily basis that threaten his freedom. Most recently, one of his co-workers has pressured him into stealing from the warehouse. Ralph Angel has repeatedly turned him down, but the co-worker has nonetheless managed to make Ralph Angel complicit in his illegal activity.

Here, Ralph Angel is facing the consequences of refusing to take part as two of his fellow employees hold him down while another man pummels him in the stomach. Luckily, the boss sees them and breaks it up. "Cut the crap and get back to work," he growls.

As the manager walks away, Ralph Angel catches up to him. "I can't work with this dude no more," he says. "I can't. I ain't doing this no more."

The boss dismisses him. "Get back to work, Ralph Angel," he says. "You'll be looking for a new job."

"I'm fine with that," Ralph Angel says.

The boss laughs in disbelief. "What'd you say?"

"I'm fine with that."

"You want to get fired?"

"No," Ralph Angel says. "I want you to lay me off."

"You're fired. I'll make sure your parole officer is well aware of it," the boss says, relishing his words before marching away.

"Yeah, I'll talk to him," Ralph Angel calls out. The boss stops cold in his tracks. Ralph Angel continues, "Because I think he'd be interested in seeing how my check showed every week. His math might be better than mine, sir."

The boss turns around to look at Ralph Angel. "You lay me off," Ralph Angel says, "and no one got to know."

"Get your shit and get out," the boss says.

"Will do," Ralph Angel says, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile.