Black Men

Suspicions of the color black

Throughout the years, men of color have been labeled and placed at a lower level of civilization because of the color of their skin. With lists of unpleasant events, the narrator, the places in which the story takes place, and the reoccurring patterns of unwieldy racial discrimination all inter- relate with each other. In Black Men and Public Space, the narrator depicts what it is to be a colored man who is constantly being labeled as a crook and a criminal. The narrator, told this story based on his experiences that took place in both Chicago and New York, which showed a manifestation of reoccurring patterns of the racial stigma that has been placed on black men, as being thieves and convicts. For every discriminatory instance that vehemently ensued this character he still manages to be polite but strong minded. In Brent Staples “Black Men and Public Space”, a black man reveals his experience with particular individuals in public areas whom fear him based on his race’s stereotype. Staples suggest that people still tend to portray black men as violent and dangerous individuals from racial tendencies without rationalizing and thus causing stress to the victims (black men) because they’re seen as threats despite their true nature. Black men have had reputations that associate them with murderers, thieves, rapist etc. thus making people around them feel alarmed and or apprehensive. The tone from the text appears ironic as Staples uses the words “My first victim” as his opener despite himself being the victim instead of the offender. Although the narrator does not cause trouble nor bring forth harm to anyone in his way, the ‘victim’ “picked up her pace and was soon running in earnest (Staples 17). The issue Staples is demonstrating is that people should not judge others based on preconception of a certain race, and that the black man was evidently the victim of discrimination who created up risen fear and sheer pandemonium. He utilizes the irony in his text to illustrate the injustice of what seems to be and what it should be regarding the treatment to black men. The narrator seems to appear conceded to the fact that people will always view him as a threat because of his race. He first introduces the story more than ten years ago in Chicago, and then mentions other experiences as he moves to New York for his job. While working as journalist in Chicago he was mistaken for a burglar and the office manager called the security that pursued him through the halls and while killing time before an interview, he carelessly walked into a jewelry store and was greeted by a red Doberman pinscher; because she thought he came to rob her store. When he is crossing an intersection he could hear the drivers hammering on their locks to close their doors and he also describes abhorrent run ins with police men, cab drivers, and bouncers who do away with troublesome individuals before there is any problems. Staples demonstrated that no matter when or where he is the notion of black men being dangerous or being involved in criminal activity does not leave the world’s general schema. He goes out of his way to not make people feel uncomfortable despite the rage of his treatment in society”. If I happen to be entering a building behind some people who appear skittish, I may walk by, letting them clear the lobby before I return, so as not to seem to be following them” (Staples 19). With this being said Mr. Staples wants the reader to know the extreme measures in which the narrator goes through to not be seen as a constant threat. He has to alter his self of being to not appear as a criminal, Thus he also has to wear business suits or to whistle popular Melodies from classical music to appear calm and refined. In essence, being in Chicago and New York the narrator was treated the same distasteful way. This subsequent pattern of horrid occurrences is a plague where ever he goes so Mr. Staples describes these series of events in a dark manner, which will show the reader how everything that is black is perceived as being evil. For example; him being in a dark alley, he crosses the street at dark shadowy intersections, he stands on the subway platforms wee hours of the night, or he is taking a late night walk for exercise. All are associated with black as being grim; just as how he the narrator is being portrayed, and indirectly stating how everything white and bright is considered less threating and more pleasant to the eyes, which will make people feel safer and more at ease. Why everything black is so ridiculed and condemned? The purpose of the essay is to describe how being a black man the narrator is automatically at a disadvantage which is the stereotypical thief, rapist, or mugger that is associated with this color.