Reasons Black Males are Racially Profiled
Kennay DeShields DeShields 1
Dr. Kamara
ENG 101-015
28 October 2013
A Thematic Analysis of A Search Past Silence by David E. Kirkland Fear is a belief that bothers people during a period of their life. It is something that taunts them so bad to the point they are afraid for their life. It may also cause them to feel threatened, or in danger. It is fear that causes the Black man to become silent. They do not feel as though they have the power to be heard because no one ever listens. It is evident from African-American history in the past that Black men have been in fear trying to speak because they would suffer the consequences if they did. A Search Past Silence: The Literacy of Young Black Men by David E. Kirkland analyzes different reasons why Black men have no say. Fear is silenced through young Black males. Fear causes people not to express their feelings because of what they are afraid of happening. In A Search Past Silence, there were ten boys after school standing outside rapping. They were asked later by the police to leave. Everyone quickly left except Shawn. He stood his ground and did not want to leave. Shawn did not cooperate with the police: He refused to cede ground, to abandon his cypha, which for him was like ceremonial ground... Shawn asked, “Why do we have to leave?” “Get outta here, punk” one officer responded... Shawn was standing firm to his position, refusing to speak or to move. The first officer, much bigger than Shawn, choked Shawn around the arm, jerked him violently out of place, and forced him to the ground.(Kirkland 26-27) DeShields 2
Shawn suffered some major consequences with the police by getting abused. Even when no one speaks, actions will still back-fire on anybody. All of Shawn’s friends left because they were afraid of the police. Shawn was just standing up for what he believed in. Black males are afraid of being afraid. Many do not realize that they have to get through
Dr. Kamara
ENG 101-015
28 October 2013
A Thematic Analysis of A Search Past Silence by David E. Kirkland Fear is a belief that bothers people during a period of their life. It is something that taunts them so bad to the point they are afraid for their life. It may also cause them to feel threatened, or in danger. It is fear that causes the Black man to become silent. They do not feel as though they have the power to be heard because no one ever listens. It is evident from African-American history in the past that Black men have been in fear trying to speak because they would suffer the consequences if they did. A Search Past Silence: The Literacy of Young Black Men by David E. Kirkland analyzes different reasons why Black men have no say. Fear is silenced through young Black males. Fear causes people not to express their feelings because of what they are afraid of happening. In A Search Past Silence, there were ten boys after school standing outside rapping. They were asked later by the police to leave. Everyone quickly left except Shawn. He stood his ground and did not want to leave. Shawn did not cooperate with the police: He refused to cede ground, to abandon his cypha, which for him was like ceremonial ground... Shawn asked, “Why do we have to leave?” “Get outta here, punk” one officer responded... Shawn was standing firm to his position, refusing to speak or to move. The first officer, much bigger than Shawn, choked Shawn around the arm, jerked him violently out of place, and forced him to the ground.(Kirkland 26-27) DeShields 2
Shawn suffered some major consequences with the police by getting abused. Even when no one speaks, actions will still back-fire on anybody. All of Shawn’s friends left because they were afraid of the police. Shawn was just standing up for what he believed in. Black males are afraid of being afraid. Many do not realize that they have to get through