“Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples

In Brent Staples “Just Walk On: Black Men and Public Space”, he argues that the racial stereotypes he faced when he was younger actually happen to black men all the time. Staples gives examples of several situations in which he was seen as a criminal because of the color of his skin, one of them being a time when he was “mistaken for a burglar”(Staples 396). Throughout the essay, he lets readers know how his experiences have affected him, including how he views himself, and how he deals with it. He argues that the experiences he went through actually happen frequently among men of color; that in fact “black men trade tales like this all the time” (Staples 397). He supports his argument by describing situations in which he was treated like

Brent Staples is a black man in American society who has been exposed to being stereotyped against. He was walking down the street one night and a white woman was walking towards him. She turned around and started quickly walking away from him. She automatically assumed because he was a black man out at night that he would mug her. He was wearing casual street clothes with his hands in his pockets, but he never showed any threat towards her. Sh figured that he was a thug or a threat to her well being. Staples does not openly say this, but it is clear from the way he describes the woman 's actions. “She cast a worried glance. To her, the

Brent Staples’ “Black Men and Public Space” was interesting in that the author did a great job trying to illustrate the issues of 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 labeled stereotypes of being rapists, gangsters, and muggers. Brent Staples opened a door for discussion, why do we hate those we don 't understand? It doesn 't help the leader of the free world tweets leisurely while there 's more pressing matters to attend to like immigration, DACA, or the senseless kills of innocence with no basis other

Staples talks about the irrational fear he saw from others towards him. He states that "On the less traveled streets after dark, I grew accustomed to but never comfortable with people crossing to the other side of the street rather than pass me." Staples gives countless examples of the discrimination he faced just by merely having a different color of skin. The first thought in the back of many white Americans minds when they see a black man is a fear that they are going to get raped, mugged, or robbed. In reality, this man is on his way home from a long day at work. I sometimes think the world will never change. Willingly, we exist through

Out of the three essays I choose the “Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples, because the writer did not just write about what had happened to him but he elaborated what his feelings and emotions toward the situations as well as the understanding of the behaviors of the woman. He kept his tone informative and was not biased with anger, which to me was a great approach he wanted to get the point out that not all black men are dangerous and up to no good that they are educated with morals just like everyone else. He understood why people react the way they do fiving examples of the crime and wrong he had seen people he personally knew. But, at the same time he wanted to express that this stereotyping is not right and does affect the victim’s

In today’s world, the majority of society still get uneasy and nervous around colored people at vacant locations, mostly due to the overrepresentation of black citizens being connected with violence. Written by Brent Staples, “Black Men and Public Space” explains life from a colored man’s perspective on how he is perceived by others and treated differently as compared to a random white man in a dark alley. Staples elaborates that his impression from others was “of a mugger, a rapist, or worse,” making him feel humiliated and gloom because apparently nobody could recognize the difference between him and a real crook. In reality, Staples is an educated, musically-inclined person who is not looking for rambles, but working a job, living life,

The stories “Black Men in Public” and “Champions of the World” relate to me in similar ways. Authors Staples and Angelou have had gone through challenging experiences and have been discriminated and stereotyped; they share my beliefs that we should not judge by someone’s skin color or by appearance.

Staples starts out the story with an anecdote about a white lady who he describes as “victim”. Giving his perspective as a black man, this helps the reader understand his perspective but also how he feels. “My [His] first victim was woman”. (Staples 849) He gives an exact description of himself; a black man, 6 feet 2 inches wearing a military jacket with

For both authors, the judgements based on appearance are just myths. In “Black Men and Public Space”, Ben Staples projects the criminal stereotype of African Americans in the US mainly from the whites. Due to which black men are considered to be threatening and dangerous, a common conception that the African-American males are likely to commit violent crime, however, it is not true for every black person. And thus, the culture of American racism then diminishes a humanity of a black man. In his journal, Ben contends that he lives safely and has a good career; however, his recall of his presence on the street at night viewed as a rapist or robber to a white woman is an example of public prejudice. Such “episodes” of being judged are not uncommon to black men. On a different occasion, Staples witnesses another black male journalist goes to work on a story about a murder’s habitat and is mistaken as that killer. As a victim and an observer of negative stereotypes on black men, he is surprised, embarrassed, disappointed and humiliated all at once. This illogical theory by the public seems unreasonable, but surprisingly, dominant in a multi-cultural society. In the same way, Judith Cofer, dealing with her Latin “gene pools”, also experiences stereotype. Latina women are “kept

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 late twenties” (207). Leaves reader with a sense of curiosity for looking after evidence of nastiness in the upcoming story that is going to be read. Brent explains his personal experience as a young black African-American, also looking tall and

Once you look at an individual and recognize their specific physical traits, you would assume their race. However, what is race? Race is the major divisions of humankind that unifies a group of people based on who shares the same history, culture, language, physical features, and geographical distribution. In “Notes of a Native Son,” by James Baldwin and “Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space,” by Brent Staples, there is a discussion of race all throughout their writing but there is a subtle difference in the way they approach this topic. Through their different uses of diction and syntax, Baldwin’s establishes an indignant and bittersweet tone that highlights the way he feels towards the racial injustice he has experienced; whereas Staples’ establishes an ironic and poised tone highlights his annoyance towards the stereotypes black men face on a day-to-day basis.

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 and speed up. Another example of racial issue that Staples talks about in his article was, “I grew accustomed to but never comfortable with people crossing to the other side of the street rather than pass me.” (page 1) He had to find ways

First, Brent Staples is a black man who is judged based on physical appearance by the public. Brent Staple address his experiences of being discriminated by the public and mistakenly accused of being a burglar at his job. Brent Staples first victim was a white woman that was in her late twenties (520). As a graduate student, Staples took a late night walk on the avenue. Brent was walking behind a woman, but notice there seem to be a discreet of inflammatory distance between them (520). Suddenly the woman casted back with a fearful glance at Brent. When woman the observe Brent Staples appearance for being a black man-a broad six feet two inches with a beard and billow hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a bulky military jacket (520). The woman judged based on his physical features that Brent was harmful

In Black Men and Public Spaces, I think Staples is talking to the people who fear black men, especially in public spaces. When walking down a road at night, it is easy to be afraid of the black man walking your way, and Staples is trying to explain that they are not all dangerous. I also think that Staples is talking to other men who can relate to his stories. I feel he is sharing his so that they know that they are not alone. Staples gives a short explanation of how he grew

In the essay Black Men in Public Spaces, Staples discusses the reality of what it is like to be a black man in modern society. Staples first recollection of falling victim to racial stigma was in the early 1970’s when he was out walking late at night which scared a young white woman. This was the day he realized he could change the feeling of public spaces with only his presence.