Fighting is an everyday occurrence in the U.S. and sometimes these fights are caught on camera. Often times, certain fights capture images that become viral on internet sites like YouTube and become common talk around the water cooler.

BUS SCENARIO

On Feb. 16, a fight between 67-year-old Thomas Bruso (aka Vietnam Tom or Tom Slick) and a 50-year-old man who has only identified himself as Michael was recorded on bus 3057 of an AC Transit System in Oakland, California. Seen from the images on the recording, (uploaded to YouTube by Iyanna Washington, who recorded it) Bruso and Michael seem to be getting into a racially charged argument over what Bruso describes as a “spit shine” for his shoes. No one knows what was said before the video started (Bruso and Michael have conflicting stories) but it starts with Bruso asking “How much you charge for a spit shine? How much will you charge me to shine my Stacey Adams? I am going to a funeral on Friday.”

While this may seem as a racially charged comment, Bruso insists that Michael had mentioned that he was talking about spit shining shoes for extra money. Michael then responds with “Why? What is your problem? Why a brother gotta spit-shine your shoes? Why do you have to be so racist?” in a clearly agitated and angry tone. Bruso states that he is not a racist and that he was just taking him up on the offer. According to the video, Bruso stands up and moves to the front of the bus after some arguing and yells “I see tough guys like you and I slap [them]!”

HISTORY OF ANGER

This is not the first time Bruso has been caught on tape causing a scene. Bruso was also recorded being tasered on August 3, 2009 at an Oakland A’s baseball game. He was apprehended by police officers after being found carrying alcohol and then physically subdued after refusing to leave. Bruso admits to having post-traumatic stress disorder and anger issues and to having been in jail before for physical altercations. After the AC Transit System fight, Bruso states in an interview that he was admitted to the John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro, California.

This led to a snowball effect which eventually led to racial comments by both men as well as passengers on the bus followed by a fist fight. Michael then follows him to the front and throws the first recorded punch. Unfortunately, the nearly five-second fist fight left Michael bleeding on the floor of the bus and Bruso kicked off.

REACTIONS AFTER VIDEO

Within hours of the video being posted, a virtual tidal wave of comments regarding to the fight have been seen in YouTube comments, video replies, message boards and news articles. While most seem to favor Tom’s side of the story due to Michael’s action of throwing the first punch (who later admitted he was intoxicated in an interview on WiLD 94.9 San Francisco), a lot of them seem racially motivated. While the U.S. is stimulated to give their two cents on the matter, most seem to delve into the world of white vs. black.

So who is to blame here? Because the entire conversation was not recorded and both parties involved have conflicting stories, no one is really sure if this was a joke gone wrong or truly a case of racism still present in American society. While the video greatly puts Michael in a negative light due to him instigating the fight as well as throwing the first punch, Bruso’s violent past is also up for question. Could the fight have been prevented? Was Bruso or Michael justified in their actions and reactions? That is really for the video’s viewers, and California courts, to decide.