Similarities Between Staples And Rodriquez

Far too often, minorities are judged on the color of their skin. African Americans and Hispanics are both victims of racial profiling. Racial profiling is the discrimination against an individual and suspecting something based off their race. “Just Walk on By” by Brent Staples, and “Complexion” by Richard Rodriquez are two articles that focus on the racial profiling of minorities. Although Staples and Rodriquez had to endure racism and hatred from others, both victims learned to cope with their struggles in their own way. Staples encounters multiple acts of racial profiling while walking throughout his hometown cities. Fearful street walkers, mostly women, judged Staples as a criminal. “I grew accustom to but never comfortable with people who crossed to the other side of the street rather than pass me,” said Staples. Individuals were so frightened by Staples, that they feared to pass him on the street. Staples was an educated African American male, who had never participated in any of the criminal activity he was being stereotyped for, but that did not stop him from being profiled. Also, there were numerous times that Staples was followed through department stores because workers feared he was going to steal or harm others. However, Staples did not exhibit any …show more content…
Staples states “I learned to smother the rage I felt at so often being taken for a criminal,” which proves that he was disturbed by the racial profiling, which controlled his life. Toward the end of Staples text, he began to speak about the movements he had to make in his life to begin coping with the racism. He seemed to cope in an extrinsic way; walking differently on the streets, dressing differently, walking ahead of individuals so they did not feel as if they were being stalked, and whistling classical music when walking in the streets were all these things Staples changed to be less intimidating to