I imagine standing in a gas station on Claiborne and Jackson waiting to pay the cashier when a black man walks up behind me. (Para. 10)
"Imagine" is a word learned during middle school. But be careful with how to use the word; the word "imagine" is often followed by a noun or a noun phrase. The following are examples picked up from your reading passage.
I understand why I imagined being robbed by a man. 我明白我为什么会想象自己遭到一个男子的抢劫。(Para. 8)
I imagine another possibility. 我又想象另一种可能性。(Para. 11)
I imagine another confrontation in front of my apartment. 我设想另外一种在我的公寓前遭遇歹徒的情景。(Para. 15)
vt. 理解,懂,听说,获悉,将 ... 理解为,认为<