Analysis Of Brent Staples Just Walk By: Black Men And Public Space

Over the years, our generations’ stereotypical views over the issue on young black males being viewed as dangerous has grown significantly. There are different reasons why these stereotypes occur in our society. People feel on edge when running into them in dark passageways, whenever it’s late at night. Also, while they’re sitting at red lights and notice someone walking towards their cars, they instantly initiate down the door locks. People think stereotyping black men this way keeps them safer because they assume the worst. However; other people disagree with instantly judging who they see around them, it hurts more people as well as themselves by viewing black men this way. Brent Staples, the author of “Black Men and Public Spaces,” claims that he’s considered a stereotypical black criminal. In his essay, Staples succeeds because he successfully appeals to people’s emotions, is an expert on human behavior, creates common ground and offers a logical solution.

In Brent Staples’ "Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space," Staples describes the issues, stereotypes, and criticisms he faces being a black man in public surroundings. Staples initiates his perspective by introducing the audience into thinking he is committing a crime, but eventually reveals how the actions taken towards him are because of the fear linked to his labelled stereotypes of being rapists, gangsters and muggers. Staples continues to unfold the audience from a 20 year old experience and sheds light onto how regardless of proving his survival compared to the other stereotypical blacks with his education levels and work ethics being in the modern era, he is still in the same plight. Although Staples relates such burdens through his personal experiences rather than directly revealing the psychological impacts such actions have upon African Americans with research, he effectively uses emotion to explain the social effects and challenges they have faced to avoid causing a ruckus with the “white American” world while keeping his reference up to date and accordingly to his history.

Brent Staples “Black Men and Public Space” is a look at how people perceive black people in the 1960s. Staples explains how people would treat him on a day to day basis. Even when he was a child he would be looked at differently because of his color. He quickly establishes ethos, logos and pathos credibility tough the many examples. This article shows the injustices done to him while living in New York. Brent Staples Black Men and Public Space uses pathos, ethos, and logos effectively throughout the essay.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive” (Mahatma). Our culture identifies who we are and how we behave in social environments and provides us with a foundation in which to live our lives and raise our families. Each individual culture has certain customs and courtesies that are important. Exposure to the cultures of others can be intimidating and can leave a person feeling confused and unsure about how they fit in (Schaefer 60). Culture shock can leave a person feeling out of place in an unfamiliar culture (Schaefer 60). Our diverse societies demand understanding and acceptance of other cultures. Learning and understanding these cultures before being

In today’s American society, being born black is often life threatening and comes with many struggles and fears. The author Brent Staples visibly demonstrates the presence of black men, in his article “Black Men and Public Spaces”. Staples illustrates to the readers how black men attempt to live their lives as normal as possible, but are unable to because of the fear society has of them. Brent Staples attests to the turbulent lives black men face in society, from their childhood to an adult age. Staples is able to demonstrate the various issues black men face in society with the use of logos, ethos, and pathos.

African-American men and white men are born and raised within the continental U.S.; each of their own faculty empowered to change the social injustice of a society. The innate qualities of the African American do not compare to those of the white man, yet - “empowered” they are with character. The foundation for the concept –“character” is best defined as “holistic,” meaning of physical, mental and social qualities – A. Adler’s school of thought, as well as A. Maslow and C. Rogers’ thoughts –“[a]n equal human being… cognitive, emotional, and volitional” (Ambrus, 33 -34)

In a perfect world, we would see no color. People would be judged based on their character instead of their skin color or religious preference, yet this is real life. This doesn’t happen. Instead, we prejudge the different types of people in the world before actually getting to know them. In society, we judge people based on one’s racial identification or religious preference instead of their self-perception.

In the essay “Black Men and Public Space”, writer Brent Staples provides insight into a social occurrence that has developed due to racism and violence in today’s society. He was born in Chester, Pennsylvania and has received a B.A. in behavioral science from Widener University along with a P.H.D. in psychology from University of Chicago (2). Staples writes on culture and politics currently for the New York Times. In the past, he has also written articles for magazines such as the Chicago and the Down Beat. In the essay, Staples reflects back to numerous occasions he had first hand experience with racism relating to violence.

Interpretive Analysis Essay Rough Draft In “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples addresses the difficulties of being a black man and how it affects his daily life. He stresses that the presence of black people in public spaces frightens white people because white people are not able to differentiate between a black person from a mugger or a thug. After years of fighting over the meaning of race in our country, many may think that it is not as relevant of a problem as it once was, yet this essay expresses how one must change the way he carries and presents himself due to the way that society subconsciously reacts to a man of color. Staples convinces the readers to question how their actions may contribute to this issue.

The essay “Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples opens readers eyes on how humans tend to naturally judge people when exposed to different concepts. These concepts range from appearances, opinions, or any anomalies that are considered against the norm. This essay explores the stereotypes that are carried by black men, focusing specifically on how they are perceived as “a mugger, a rapist, or worse” while walking in the streets.

A recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center gathered that “about eight-in-ten (84%) black Americans say blacks in this country are treated less fairly than whites in dealing with the police...” (Pew Research Center). In today's society, prejudice displays against this minority cannot be eliminated, but it can be reduced significantly if people stop focusing on the negative aspects and start noticing the positive factors that African Americans contribute to society. Their culture, including music and dance, has broadened society’s diversity, just the same as any other minority has. The excerpt “The Causes of Prejudice” by Vincent Parrillo, a professor of sociology at William Paterson College explores the different theories that can form different prejudices.

In order to think positively about diversity, a person would have to look from the other persons point a view. As yourself how would you want to be treated if there is sometime of barrier. I think that people have a prejudgment of a group of people or ethnicities are why it’s so hard to accept different diversities.

In a larger context, it is often times challenging for ethnic, racial, or social groups to be accepting of other groups. Sometimes people reside in their comfortable groups because they are intimidated by cultural differences or in more intense circumstances because of racist, sexist, or homophobic views.

Upon leaving a house in the morning, an individual experiences diversity in each aspects of their life, from their work involvements to their neighborhood associates. We live in a diverse nation, with each individual governed by their personal values and beliefs, while endeavoring to spread synchrony and unity. When it comes to understanding families, society should both emphasize the similarities that exist across ethnoracial and religious groups, and emphasize the differences that give these groups their unique culture and identity. We should value differences, as “the different abilities, interests, attitudes, and values of each diverse group provide a broad range of options and ideas that can improve the ability to solve problems and create new ideas” (Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand, 2014, p. 35). By sanctioning ourselves to experience diversity, we open the door to innovative possibilities and perspectives. Because individuals often view their personal culture as superior, they disregard or place judgments, on the attitudes and behaviors of diverse cultures. Due to this unenlightened attitude, we overlook the meaning and purpose behind cultural behaviors; rather than seeking knowledge, we place labels on unfamiliar or opposing experiences. When exposed to a foreign culture, individuals tend to notice the aspects that differ from their own culture, such as clothing, rituals, food preference, and familial roles.

I am growing up in a time where technology has allowed people from all parts of the world to communicate and interact. A month-long sea voyage from Europe to the Americas has now become extinct, as airplanes can travel from New York to London in a third of a day. Thanks to advances in the mobile phones and applications like Skype, I can talk and share a smile with someone on the complete opposite side of the world. Even language barriers have been eliminated, thanks to translation software easily found on the World Wide Web. With all these growing innovations, there is no place for ignorance in the modern frontier. Dislike of others based solely on racial profile, gender, or orientation can cost big opportunities. All individuals of all sorts of backgrounds need to be treated with acceptance, and appreciated for their differences. My group of friends is diverse. The only thing that we all have in common is that we enjoy each other's company. To me, the idea of judging someone based on the color of their skin or their sex is absolutely preposterous. I regularly spend time with guys and girls, some of which have a different skin tone and backgrounds, and I have learned a very important lesson because of it. These people, they are amazing people. They can accomplish anything just as well as anyone else, and they prove it to me on a daily basis. My diversity has expanded because of them, and they have opened my