Black Men And Public Space Summary

Brent Staples is an author as well as an editorial writer for the New York Times. Staples’ work often includes American culture and how race it plays a role in it. “Black Men and Public Space” is a well-known essay written by Staples in 1986. It was first published as, “Just Walk on By” in a magazine titled Ms. Magazine. He writes about his experience in society and around others as a black man. He describes in detail his encounters with people, particularly those who seem to fear him because of his appearance; a six foot two black man with large hair and a beard. Staples’ seeks to bring about awareness of how black men are perceived. He is looking to put an end to these negative stereotypes by sympathizing with his audience as well as making them feel sympathy towards him.

Individuals should not feel compelled to remain a fixture in their respective culture or community because one has to cope with societal criticism based on the fictitious perceptions by fanatic individuals of society. In “Black Men and Public Space,” author Brent Staples demonstrates this by arguing that because of his culture, he is categorized as a criminal since he and most stereotyped criminals come from the same cultural background. Staples explains that he is a colored man who walks home but always minds his own business. But even though he does so, society views his appearance as a threat. He narrates an interaction he had with a woman where they were walking on the same side on the sidewalk, but after she noticed him, she took off and was across the street within seconds. Staples describes that he was only twenty-two years old at the time and was a college graduate of no harm whatsoever. As Staples explains to the audience how the women made him feel he describes that, “Her flight made me feel like an accomplice to tyranny. It also made it clear that I was indistinguishable from the muggers who occasionally seeped into the area from the surrounding ghetto” (Staples 267). Because Staples is bound to culture and his physical appearance is the same as those of criminals, the mindset of society is negative towards him without reason. Staples uses the literary device simile, a figurative comparison of two things often dissimilar using connecting words, to argue that since

African American’s have been inferior to Whites for nearly 100 years. Moreover, experiencing the forefront of brutality, racism, and discrimination of this great nation. Baldwin, King, and Coate write informative letters addressing the lifestyle forced upon blacks, due to the misguided tradition. The authors express the benefits of the injudicious customs for Whites at the price of slavery, injustice, and violence towards Black Americans. Baldwin, King, and Coate overflow their letters with hope, faith, and love to educate people when they’re in their darkest hour.

Throughout the entirety of his essay, Staples presents himself in a gentle and almost heartbroken manner as a means of portraying the way his community unjustly makes racist inferences about African Americans. By utilizing vivid imagery and by demonstrating a respectful understanding of the opposing perspective,

Staples shares with the reader his personal frustrations with the way society is quick to judge a black man. And throughout

In the essay “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples explains how people showed alienation towards him and he found ways to be less threatening to the people. Brent Staples is a twenty-year-old graduate student from the University of Chicago. He says the people around him see him as a bad influence because he is black. For example, people judge him in many ways such as a mugger, a rapist, and a robber. In his surroundings, he tells us people saw him as dangerous and frightening. In addition, Staples illustrates “language of fear” when women are scared of him being on the streets. In public places people illustrates him differently like mistaken for a burglar and showing discrimination. Staples shows how he learned to take precautions

At the end of the short story, “Black Men and Public Spaces” by Brent Staples, the following quote is used to engulf the reader in the fear Staples experiences in society: “It is my equivalent of the cow-bell that hikers wear when they know they are in bear country.” In other words, society is the real danger in which victims are chosen through a preconceived bias of skin color and ethnicity. Staples concludes the story with this quote to depict the effects of fear towards people who are different and to use empathy to bridge the gap of understanding.

People think that stereotypes can’t be avoided. We have them about race, gender, sexuality and about anything else you could think of. Brent Staples and Judith Ortiz Cofer are both experienced writers with the message that stereotypes are dangerous because they are incomplete. Yet they completely different stories. Both of these stories contain examples of stereotyping.

Reflecting on the “Black Men and Public Spaces” passage, one can see that Brent Staples was incited to modify his actions and looks just to satisfy the insecurities of others; he somewhat changed his image to placate his “victims”. Then ahmir spoke about his own experiences which are undisputedly similar to that of Brent’s; even a pedestrian mind can draw parallels between their accounts. In contrast to what Brent Staples implied in the first paragraph saying his first “victim”, I believe they (Brent and Ahmir) are actually the victims. What makes Brent Staples and Ahmir so similar is not just their situations, but how their experiences are functions of their physical appearances or some may like to say, race, although I believe race is just one of the factors that lead to their experiences. Ahmir and Brent are similarly structured; they are

In the article Black Men and Public Space, the author uses personal experiences to express the idea of racism and judgement based on appearance. One of the worst experiences Staples talked about on page 15 was when he scared a white women when he turned the corner at night, and she ran off. He exclaimed “It was clear that she thought to herself the quarry of a mugger, rapist, or worse” (page 15). By using personal experiences, it helps the reader become more connected to the topic and it also makes people side with the author's opinions because he/she is experienced. In my opinion this article is very sad but true at the same time. People fear what they do know know whether it is race, religion or a certain way of life.

Du Bois’s main proposal in this book is to explain the effect racism had on the identity of African Americans. Du Bois tries to make his audience comprehend the systematic oppression that African Americans faced during the time of reconstruction through a series of true anecdotes and narratives. He uses the anecdotes and narratives not only to appeal to his audience’s pathos and ethos, but also to convince his audience with evidence in a realistic and clear manner. He tries to have his audience understand the very different life African Americans lived compared to those that white Americans lived, and how that existing racism affected the identity of those African Americans. Throughout this book, he explains that the law and order of society in a post-slavery era prevented African Americans from achieving true equality, which hindered their understanding of their own blackness. Du Bois explains this oppression African Americans faced through three significant

“Black men and public spaces” is an excellent article it has many similarities to the world today. This story has several points that I agree with I have a strong connection with the story. I assume his choice, this new title for the female readers to have more insight on the problems that a black man go through in the real world. I like how Staples used different scenarios to get the readers to have an emotional connection. So, that they will be able visualize and understand what he is going through. This story shows that black men still get judged due to their race and gender. I don’t like how he acquired to change just to satisfy the needs of others. Till this day black men in society are always going to get judge by the cause of their skin color. It shouldn’t be that way in the world, but that’s how things are. They always must wonder about rather they’re going to get arrested for just roaming the streets at night or entering a jewelry store. Therefore, people are always categorizing men as lower-class men, they don’t think that they can be successful in life.

It is well known from historical accounts, novels, poems, movies, and other sources that blacks have been abused, neglected, and mistreated in American society. In addition, a great deal has been written about the lives, hardships, and obstacles of black men.

At all times, the African American soul must be aware of their inferior status to white people, and the limitation to their opportunities in politics, education, and wealth. My grandfather suffered the harsh reality of these limitations by not have the rights to education. The highest level of education he was able to obtain was 3rd grade education. He explained to me how at the time when he was force to leave school he did not understand. Why did the color of his skin denied him the rights to education unlike the whites in the town.

People of color have been the targets of bigotry, racial discrimination, and oppression since the arrival of the early European settlers. This is evident in the mass extermination of the Native Americans and in the kidnapping and enslavement of African’s in the 1600’s. Although slavery was abolished over 100 years ago the traumatic effects of this injustice is present in today’s society. The forefathers of America built this nation with the hands of black people and despite their contribution to this country they continue to be marginalized. Even though black people have made many strides this long-standing history of oppression has persevered throughout the generations. The deep-rooted contention of inequality and injustice has