Why is it when the discussion is about somebody selling candy on the subway certain peoples minds seem to be turning to violent crime, but when you hear about people with unlicensed lemon-aid stands we don't seem to see this?
To put it bluntly, I suspect it has something to do with the demographic people associate both of these (rather identical) businesses.
If you were blunt you would say that people are suggesting that his alternative occupations would have been burglary or drug dealing because he's black, and they are fools. And you would have been right.
I agree, but not in the sense you mean it. The demographic for lemonade stands is little kids, while the demographic most closely associated with trying to earn money in the subway is desperate adults. One of these demographics is drastically more likely to commit violent crime if they can't make money another way.
To put it bluntly, I suspect it has something to do with the demographic people associate both of these (rather identical) businesses.