ENC1101 07 JUNE 2011 ESSAY # 1 The ability to “alter public space” can often be a negative reaction by society guided by fear and prejudice as depicted by Brent Staples’ in his essay “Just Walk On By”. But can one’s appearance “alter public space” in a positive manner? Because of his appearance as a young‚ burly‚ six-foot-two black man with a beard and billowing hair‚ Staples is perceived by others to be violent or a criminal. Staples could use his appearance as a positive influence. Examples
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Angel Johnson Professor O’Toole Journal #3 20 September 2012 Black Men and Public Space In Brent Staples’s “Black Men and Public Space‚” he describes his ability to alter space. Being a broad‚ tall African American‚ Staples is often feared by others and confused with danger. Staples says‚ “As a softy who is scarcely able to take a knife to a raw chicken - let alone hold one to a person’s throat - I was surprised‚ embarrassed‚ and dismayed all at once. Her flight made me feel like an accomplice
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In the essay “Black men and Public Space” by Brent Staples‚ he talks about how being a black man alters public space in a negative way. Altering public space is changing how a person‚ place‚ or thing makes you feel. It can be negative but it also can be positive. Some positive ways altering public space can be a friendly smile walking into a room‚ beautiful new constructions‚ and planting trees to better the environment. Most people go about their business‚ especially in a classroom. Some students
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story “Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples describes the racial discrimination‚ the treatment of black men in the United States. He includes some personal experience and stories of other black people. In his case‚ one particular occasion makes him realize that he‚ like many black men‚ is treated as a potential troublemaker even though he has always been a quiet and smart person. Staples states that black men came to this world with the inheritance-with the ability to alter public space in ugly
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English 3 20 February 2013 Just Walk on By: Black Man in Public Space Brent Staples‚ author of “Just Walk on By: Black Man in Public Space.” discusses when the white woman he comes across one day late at night was constantly turning back as if she feared him for the way he looked. Brent highlights racism that has occurred to him during the 1970s. This encounter happened in an impoverished part of Chicago; he describes himself as a “youngish black man--a broad six feet two inches with a beard
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has a special power to alter public space‚ but if you were different from your surrounding‚ then you would probably have a very good sense about what I am talking about. In "Black Space"‚ Brent Staples claims that he is black man who whenever in public is meet with fear from his surrounding because of his races stereotype. He clearly points out one can easily change physical behavior and dressing in order to alter public space in a good way or bad way. As Staples says‚ Black men have a very bad reputation
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This reflective essay “Black Men and Public Spaces” by Brent Staples‚ argues about the author’s personal struggles for being a black man‚ in his twenties‚ in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Brent Staples was born and raised in Chester‚ Pennsylvania but he finished his studies and began working as a journalist in Chicago and New York City. Staples writes about some stories that gradually led him to realize over the fear of being judged by his race. In “Black Men and Public Spaces”‚ Staples let us become
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Real Victims of Sterotyping The name of the story is Black Men and Public Spaces. It was written by Brent Staples in 1986. Brent Staples is a black man who whenever in public is met with fear from others because of his race’s stereotype. Feeling like a potential perpetrator can be just as unnerving as feeling like a potential victim. Staples has the ability to alter public space by his physical behavior‚ his dress and his verbal reaction. Black men have a reputation of being rapist‚ murders and gang
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things such as prejudice. In Brent Staples essay “Black Men and Public Space” this is clearly shown by the authors own experiences of antipathy and hostility towards him caused by his own self. In “Black Men and Public Space”‚ Brent Staples begins by coming to the realization of the way he’d be viewed for the rest of his life. He describes feelings of uneasiness towards his newfound self-image. It all came to him one evening in an ally where his tall frame walked behind a young woman. She proceeded
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Brief Summary Staples began to realize he had the ability to “alter public space in ugly ways” (Staples‚ 135). He was walking during nighttime in Chicago when a woman noticed him behind her. She quickened her pace‚ eventually running off onto another street to avoid him. He didn’t realize he had that type of negative effect on people until the woman fled in fear. After that incident he began to notice it happened more often than not. People would lock their cars as he passed by. They would walk
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