As a young, big black man, Brent Staples had to overcome adversity. He experiences situations unique to people like him. These situations include unintentionally frightening people walking down the street and people at his work. America’s fear of young black men and the racism present in society alters the way Staples must live.
In his introduction of “Black Men and Public Space” Staples refers to an encounter he had while walking in Hyde Park. Staples saw a young white lady who “After a few more quick glimpses [of Staples], she picked up her pace and was soon running in earnest” (Staples, 267). This first situation Staples describes demonstrates the fear he unintentionally casts onto others. This fear that lingers in society can cause great harm to people …show more content…
Now he knew he had “the ability to alter public space in ugly ways” (staples, 267). Staples refers to the lady he terrified in Hyde Park by his presence there. It came to his attention that others’ assumptions made him “indistinguishable from the muggers who occasionally seeped into the area from the surrounding ghetto” (Staples, 267). The racist assumptions about who he was made him no different than an actual mugger in their minds. He faced “the standard unpleasantries with policemen, doormen, bouncers, cabdrivers, and others whose business it is to screen out troublesome individuals before there is any nastiness” (Staples, 267). Staples later describes a personal experience of the racism against him; “One day, rushing into the office of a magazine I was writing for… I was mistaken as a burglar” (Staples, 268). His own place of employment removed him because of a racist bias. To avoid these prejudices, Staples takes precautionary measures and calms his anger towards those biases. By smothering his rage, he noticed he could whistle melodies to calm the setting (Staples, 269). Staples had prejudices against him, but never let them hold him
In his introduction of “Black Men and Public Space” Staples refers to an encounter he had while walking in Hyde Park. Staples saw a young white lady who “After a few more quick glimpses [of Staples], she picked up her pace and was soon running in earnest” (Staples, 267). This first situation Staples describes demonstrates the fear he unintentionally casts onto others. This fear that lingers in society can cause great harm to people …show more content…
Now he knew he had “the ability to alter public space in ugly ways” (staples, 267). Staples refers to the lady he terrified in Hyde Park by his presence there. It came to his attention that others’ assumptions made him “indistinguishable from the muggers who occasionally seeped into the area from the surrounding ghetto” (Staples, 267). The racist assumptions about who he was made him no different than an actual mugger in their minds. He faced “the standard unpleasantries with policemen, doormen, bouncers, cabdrivers, and others whose business it is to screen out troublesome individuals before there is any nastiness” (Staples, 267). Staples later describes a personal experience of the racism against him; “One day, rushing into the office of a magazine I was writing for… I was mistaken as a burglar” (Staples, 268). His own place of employment removed him because of a racist bias. To avoid these prejudices, Staples takes precautionary measures and calms his anger towards those biases. By smothering his rage, he noticed he could whistle melodies to calm the setting (Staples, 269). Staples had prejudices against him, but never let them hold him