Brent Staples published “Just Walk on By” in Ms.Magazine during the racially tense time of the 80’s . In this essay‚ he talks about racial tension from his perspective as a young black male facing discrimination during these times. Brent criticizes our society for how common this form of discrimination is and addresses those who perpetuate stereotypes. He goes on to explain the root cause of people abusing intimidation of others‚ describing it as a learned behavior taught from infancy. Brent continues
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a theif. Most black people are perceived as a "gangster" when they really aren’t. Some black people are actual gangsters and should only get labeled as a gangster because of their actions. In the story "Just Walk on By" the narrator started off the story with how he first started stalking women. Not haven read the story before; when he started it off with "My first victim was a woman--white‚ well dressed‚ porobably in her early twenties"‚ I automatically assumed it was a young black male or a middle
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Black Men and Public Space I think the main idea of this essay is author using his own experience to tell us about that personal stereotype and ourselves’ inattentive behaviours can alter public space in ugly ways. And the purpose is trying to teach us how to handle that situation with precautionary behaviours‚ do not judge people by appearances‚ and even you had been stereotyping‚ just be calm. As evidence‚ I offer the following supporting examples from this essay. Like in paragraph eight and
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Brent Staples uses vivid language and rhetorical devices to express and convey the elements of fear‚ anger‚ and violence. We all make many decisions based on past experiences. That’s how we learn to avoid touching a hot stove burner for example. It’s also about how we learn to do things that bring us pleasure. So we all develop discriminating behavior‚ but when that discrimination is based purely on the color on that person’s skin‚ or his ethnicity‚ without knowing anything else about that person
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The article‚ Mr. Bellow’s Planet by Brent Staples centers how Staples lived in Chicago as well as his inspiration to become a journalist. The article had a lot of attention grasping moments‚ however‚ I was confused about the structure and the message of the profile. For example‚ in the beginning of the article from pages 179 to 184‚ the article describes the neighborhood in which the narrator lived in as well as how many people feared him. The rest of the article‚ illustrates different characters
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Marcquitta Head SOCI 3010 (Public Space) April 3‚ 2011 Introduction Each day we may see new faces‚ or maybe someone we already know. And there are times when we sit down on a park bench or a restaurant outside table (on a sunny day) and observe passers by. At some point and time one may wonder exactly what is public space. Could it be an open space for the public to shop‚ eat‚ socialize‚ or lounge? Or is the definition of space more complex? Well according our reader‚ public space includes all areas
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Learn Part One – Black Men and Public Spaces The purpose of this story is to let everyone know about the stereotypes and opinions made about black men. I had no idea that people really were so scared by black people at night so often. I can understand being scared if you’re walking alone at night. I even get scared when I’m walking alone at night‚ but I don’t discriminate on who I’m scared of. If I see a White‚ Hispanic‚ Japanese‚ or Chinese creep man I’m going to be just as scared of them as
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09/28/20 Black Men and Public Places by Brent Staples In the short story Black Men and Public Spaces by Brent Staples‚ the writer goes through a struggle of being viewed as other “Black men” in society such as perpetrators of violence. Although he felt enraged as he stated on pg.316‚ “Over the years‚ I learned to smother the rage I felt at so often being taken for a criminal”. He begins to understand why people‚ mainly woman fear him so much. This is because as he states “I understand
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Alabama‚ a black man was walking to his ride in a rather vacant parking lot‚ when he saw an older white gentleman just minding his own business near his car. When the young guy noticed what the seemingly stranded man was doing‚ he decided to insert himself in this stranger’s evening and seize the opportunity that presented itself. Anthony was leaving a shopping center in Mobile‚ when he first noticed the elderly man right outside his white sedan. Seeing that the guy was alone‚ he made his way through
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Essay Being black and gay in the 1950s wasn’t the best thing you could be‚ being a black male 6 feet tall wasn’t either. James Baldwin and Brent Staples both suffered from discrimination in the 1950s. James Baldwin was an African-American writer who was discriminated in the public for being black‚ while Brent Staples was discriminated in the public because of how he looked and dressed. Brent Staples moved to Manhattan where was treated wrong. Staples was called different things during his time in New
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