Racism is the belief that one race is fundamentally superior to another, leaving the other race potentially more dangerous, violent, and more likely to be the cause of problems. Despite any real evidence, many believe this is true. Brent Staples, author of “Black Men and Public Spaces” shares some of his own experiences, as being an African American man himself and many of his troubles caused by his race.
Staples, being African American, has been mistaken for a criminal countless times. Many people have before been convinced that he was a “mugger, rapist, or worst” (Staples. 538) He shares stories about scaring a woman that was walking on the street late at night, people hurrying to lock their car doors as they saw him getting closer to the …show more content…
He explains that he can 't blame them, as “young black males are drastically overrepresented among the perpetrators of violence” (Staples. 539) Once he makes this realization, he is surprised. He shocked that many people have the reactions they do towards his being an african american 22 year old man because in the town he grew up in he didn 't have people act that way towards him. He explains how in his hometown there were gangs, street fighting with knives, and even murders that he had to experience. He had to deal with many deaths of his friends and family or them being sent away to prison. He was known as the “good boy” and tried staying out of trouble. Even if he wasn 't a troublemaker, many see him as one in this new town. Staples was upset and wanted to change the way people thought of him so made changes to his appearance, the way he …show more content…
One day he decided that he was going to change the way he dressed, move about with care when out at night, walk away from those who may think he is following them till they 're gone and he can be on his way, and to hum and whistle melodies from classical composers, such as Beethoven and Vivaldi. He felt that these simple things, would change the opinion of others, about him.
In the last sentence of the essay Staple compares himself to a hiker in “bear country” saying that “It is my equivalent of the cowbell that hikers wear when they know they are in bear country.” (Staple.540) He uses this comparison because hikers usually like to wear a small cowbell to warn bears that they are near without an alarming approach. Which is very similar to what Staple decides to do, he is able to show others that he is not dangerous and they shouldn 't be worried when he is around in public.
As there has been much research on racism and such it is very clear that it is still a problem many people face each day. Many African Americans feel targeted due to their skin color and cultural background. This is what Staples and many of the academic journal authors are trying to explain to others who many not understand. Racism is commonly leaving one to feel seperated, seggergated, and targeted by others due to their race, which is not
Staples, being African American, has been mistaken for a criminal countless times. Many people have before been convinced that he was a “mugger, rapist, or worst” (Staples. 538) He shares stories about scaring a woman that was walking on the street late at night, people hurrying to lock their car doors as they saw him getting closer to the …show more content…
He explains that he can 't blame them, as “young black males are drastically overrepresented among the perpetrators of violence” (Staples. 539) Once he makes this realization, he is surprised. He shocked that many people have the reactions they do towards his being an african american 22 year old man because in the town he grew up in he didn 't have people act that way towards him. He explains how in his hometown there were gangs, street fighting with knives, and even murders that he had to experience. He had to deal with many deaths of his friends and family or them being sent away to prison. He was known as the “good boy” and tried staying out of trouble. Even if he wasn 't a troublemaker, many see him as one in this new town. Staples was upset and wanted to change the way people thought of him so made changes to his appearance, the way he …show more content…
One day he decided that he was going to change the way he dressed, move about with care when out at night, walk away from those who may think he is following them till they 're gone and he can be on his way, and to hum and whistle melodies from classical composers, such as Beethoven and Vivaldi. He felt that these simple things, would change the opinion of others, about him.
In the last sentence of the essay Staple compares himself to a hiker in “bear country” saying that “It is my equivalent of the cowbell that hikers wear when they know they are in bear country.” (Staple.540) He uses this comparison because hikers usually like to wear a small cowbell to warn bears that they are near without an alarming approach. Which is very similar to what Staple decides to do, he is able to show others that he is not dangerous and they shouldn 't be worried when he is around in public.
As there has been much research on racism and such it is very clear that it is still a problem many people face each day. Many African Americans feel targeted due to their skin color and cultural background. This is what Staples and many of the academic journal authors are trying to explain to others who many not understand. Racism is commonly leaving one to feel seperated, seggergated, and targeted by others due to their race, which is not