Brent Staples delves into an in-depth exploration of the obstacles and stereotypes confronting black men in society in his essay “Black Men in Public Space.” Brent Staples’ central argument revolves around the widespread fear and bias directed toward black men in public settings, which results in unjust profiling and discrimination. He contends that these stereotypes are deeply ingrained in societal consciousness and perpetuate a cycle of fear and exclusion for black men. Brent Staples supports his thesis by sharing personal anecdotes and experiences where he has faced suspicion and apprehension solely based on his race and gender. Through vivid descriptions, he underscores the irrationality of these reactions and emphasizes the folly of judging …show more content…
He recounts specific instances and observations where his presence in public spaces has elicited fear in others, specifically white individuals, such as encounters with individuals who hastily cross the street to avoid him or assume him to be a potential threat. The author also underscores the automatic and deeply ingrained reactions prompted by racial biases through retelling particular incidents, like clutching purses and avoiding eye contact. Additionally, Staples refers to research studies and reports that highlight the disproportionate targeting of black men by law enforcement and the prevalence of racial bias within society. By intertwining personal experiences with factual and firsthand evidence, Brent Staples fortifies his argument and underscores the pervasiveness of the issue. With these experiences, the author humanizes and makes the problems more relatable and emphasizes the significant effect of racial profiling on people’s everyday experiences. Furthermore, the author integrates historical background and sociological examination to place the phenomenon within broader frameworks of oppression and
It is no surprise that society fear black people, or consider them as criminals. Brent Staples portrays his experiences in “Black Men and Public Spaces.” Staples explains the encounters he has, but creates the image of why people fear blacks. Consider our mindset on how some approach the image of black people, we form our opinion based off their social status, environment, and body language. We have the “ability to alter public spaces in ugly ways” (165) with our thoughts. These components create
For example, in an essay written by Brent Staples Called Black Men and Public Space, Staples writes about how people viewed him as a black man in America. Staples states, “often being taken for a criminal”. (Staples 11) Explaining how typical strangers viewed him as he took walks around New York. He was feared and thought of as a criminal because of the color of his skin. This could be an example of racial profiling. The second cause on why the Black Lives Movement has become so important is due
Black Males vs. Equality In the essay, “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples discusses how black men are perceived. This essay first made an appearance in 1986 in Harper’s Magazine. Staples graduated from Widener University with honors. He also earned an MA and PhD from the University of Chicago in psychology. Brent Staples had many more accomplishments in his life. He was a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, assistant metropolitan editor for New York Times, editor of New York Times Book
The short essay " Black Men and Public Space" was written by Brent Staples, the essay defines the hardships of being black in the 1980's. Brent uses emotion, credibility, and logic to convey his writing. These three rhetorical appeals are commonly used by many authors, but the way he uses them really depicts his experiences. I believe that his story is well written and sheds light on how black people in the 80's were perceived. Most of all, The author uses definition as a rhetorical tool to really
In his essay, “Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples a journalist explains that unconscious prejudice and racism exists against black men in our society. Unfortunately, these preconceived notions alter the way people respond to black males, making black men feel alienated. As an African American male, Staples supports this theory, providing people with insight into his own personal experiences. Brent discusses his childhood growing up in Chester, Pennsylvania, a city ridden with gang violence
Brent Staples uses imagery to convey the message of the detrimental effects of stereotypes that exist within a society upon all of the members of that society. The imagery that Staples uses in his essay Black Men and Public Space allows the reader to sympathize with the main character who has been stereotyped by the society he lives in as a criminal due to his race, and also with other individuals who have been stereotyped in any society, to a much greater extent. Staples uses imagery to give the
The essay "Black Men and Public Space" written by Brent Staples displays racism and stereotyping toward black men by the way people perceive them and how they are treated in public. Staples writes how people, especially women, are scared and threatened by him by the way the act while he is around them. This essay shows how judgmental society can be and how race can affect how people treat others. I think that Staples uses his own experiences so that people can see what he goes through and to
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
unfairly treating a person or group of people differently from other people or groups of people”. In his article “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples (1986) describes how a black man, has been mistaken for a criminal numerous times because of his race. The presence of black people in public spaces frightened white people. Staples provides us some examples of racism that black people received in his essay such as when he scared a young white women when he walked at night on the street. The
benefit from but had no part in conceiving. Brent Staples makes three points in "Black Men and Public Space" which I agree with many white Americans stereotype African Americans, it is ignorant for people to judge so quickly, and regardless of what an African American man achieves, many white Americans will always prejudge them by the color of their skin. In "Black men and Public Space" there are many occasions where Caucasians show racism. Even though Staples was a smart individual who wouldn't hurt
Brent Staples, author of the essay “Black Men and Public Space,” delves into what it’s like to be a black man in American society, and how racial stereotyping is still very prevalent. A common thing most black men have dealt with, is being seen as dangerous and violent in the eyes of the public. This has led to unwanted suspicion and fear towards black men. Through the eyes of Staples, we can see how this has affected his daily life, explaining how with just his presence he evoked fear in others
Summary of Black Men and Public Space Staples Brent in “Black Men and Public Space” described the difficulties that a young black male may encounter during his ordinary life. It is explained that, even if you are a well-educated citizen, but you are a black man—more than six feet height with a not shaved face—you could face unfair prejudice and judgment all the time in street. At the very beginning of the article Brent start with “My first victim was a woman—white, well-dressed, probably in her
Summary “Just walk on by” Brent Staples article was originally found in Ms. Magazine in 1986, title “Just Walk On by.” He then published articles in Harper’s a year later with a new title “Just Walk on by: Black Men and Public Space.” Brent Staples found himself being judged against during the 1970. Unfortunately, when he walked down the street he would find himself being judge on his race and his clothes that he had on. As a result, Staples would walk behind people to close and they would get scared
Just walk on by Black Men and Public Space by Brent Staples is an interesting and captivating piece of writing. His publication captures one 's interest and makes a person think about the role of prejudice in his or her daily interactions. It is full of metaphors, which achieves the desired figurative effect. The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, is the founding document of the traditions of the politics of the United States (Lucas). It clearly explains the fundamental ideas that constitute
“Graduation” by Maya Angelou: “Graduation” Summary “Graduation” written by Maya Angelou focuses on her eighth grade graduation in Stamps, Arkansas. She examines the difference between white and black schools and overall the lack of equality in the south. Before graduation the entire community is excited for the grammar and high school graduation. The underclassman begin to fill in the roles left by the outgoing seniors while the outgoing seniors start acting and be treated like adults. The joy of