On a daily basis, black men are charged with crimes they did not even commit because individuals have pre-conceived notions that African American men are angry criminals. A perfect example of this instance would be in the essay “Black Men in Public Space”. In this story, Brent Staples is taking his daily walk in his neighborhood and as he is walking down the street, a white woman turns around a spots a …show more content…
In “Black Men in Public Space”, Brent Staples describes his background and illustrates his rough upbringing. For example, he states that in his hometown of Chester, Pennsylvania that he scarcely stood out because of the numerous reports of “gang warfare, street knifings, and murders”. After this he says that he grew up a good-boy and that he had only been in six fights, and he attributed this to his shyness toward violence. All the facts listed served as a juxtaposition to highlight the character of the author, which is effective in setting him apart from the stereotype. In turn, the audience can understand that the typical background of African Americans is not the norm actually, and stereotypes define people