Summary Of Just Walk On By Brent Staples
Just Walk On By In 1986, a 35 year old Brent Staples published Black Men and Public Spaces in Ms. Magazine. Through several personal experiences and analysis he discusses the causes and effects of the dangerous perception of black men. Displaying both perspectives of a white peoples’ fears, and a black man’s reaction, his essay opened the discussion for greater understanding. More importantly he reveals the mutual danger when “fear and weapons meet and they often do in urban America”, the “possibility of death” is likely for either side.
Staples introduces the problem immediately with a personal anecdote. His first encounter with this burden came notably late at 23, while studying for his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. Being a timid graduate
student that was new to the area, he failed to realize that his first impression was a bearded 6’2” black man dressed in military garb. So one night as he walked through his new neighborhood, he garnered the attention of an apprehensive woman who gradually sped up her walk to a sprint. He knew where he stood in the low income neighborhood of Chester, Pennsylvania and lived 22 years without noticing any prejudicial fear.
This event and the numerous like it that followed led Staples to serious introspection. He understood that fear incited rash behaviors from people of all races. White people may be cautious to avoid trouble, and have been told countless times black men are trouble. In the same sense black men may be tempted by the power of fear, and will be treated equally to those with moral character. While social psychology is rarely an admissible excuse, those who dictate the portrayal of black men hold more responsibility.
The standards for race relations were grandfathered in and will not change until we are ready as a country. The average person will naturally behave like a criminal if prosecuted like one or a judge if given a gavel. Leaders will have to fundamentally change parts of our society before people can face the same challenges. We scan affect change in our lives however by choosing our response to these challenges. We have to recognize the role we have been cast into and identify the role we will play. This is a lesson for any race, which is why Staples addresses both sides. In his case he decided to accommodate his biased world, and encourages other black men to do the same. He gives white people examples of misplaced judgment, in hopes of more forethought toward their fears. He focuses toward the goal of peace through understanding and unity, instead of segregation.
Staples introduces the problem immediately with a personal anecdote. His first encounter with this burden came notably late at 23, while studying for his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. Being a timid graduate
student that was new to the area, he failed to realize that his first impression was a bearded 6’2” black man dressed in military garb. So one night as he walked through his new neighborhood, he garnered the attention of an apprehensive woman who gradually sped up her walk to a sprint. He knew where he stood in the low income neighborhood of Chester, Pennsylvania and lived 22 years without noticing any prejudicial fear.
This event and the numerous like it that followed led Staples to serious introspection. He understood that fear incited rash behaviors from people of all races. White people may be cautious to avoid trouble, and have been told countless times black men are trouble. In the same sense black men may be tempted by the power of fear, and will be treated equally to those with moral character. While social psychology is rarely an admissible excuse, those who dictate the portrayal of black men hold more responsibility.
The standards for race relations were grandfathered in and will not change until we are ready as a country. The average person will naturally behave like a criminal if prosecuted like one or a judge if given a gavel. Leaders will have to fundamentally change parts of our society before people can face the same challenges. We scan affect change in our lives however by choosing our response to these challenges. We have to recognize the role we have been cast into and identify the role we will play. This is a lesson for any race, which is why Staples addresses both sides. In his case he decided to accommodate his biased world, and encourages other black men to do the same. He gives white people examples of misplaced judgment, in hopes of more forethought toward their fears. He focuses toward the goal of peace through understanding and unity, instead of segregation.