The contrast of both parties is the different lifestyles that are portrayed by the poet. The poet uses imagery to describe the two characters. The white women seemed wealthy because of what she wears and eats. The black man, however, seems mean and thuggish. By the description of the women, it implied that he is poor as well. The narrator uses tone to give the reader the frightening experience that women felt when she saw the man walking her way. For example, “I look at his raw face, he looks at my coat, he could easily take my coat, my briefcase, my life.” She also gives an exaggerated description such as, "he has the casual cold look of a mugger, alert under hooded lights". She was terrified of the man because of the stereotypes and the environment
