Who Shot Johnny Analysis

Textual Response Racially driven stereotypes have been around forever, especially where African-American males are concerned. Most likely you know a few yourself. However, in "Who Shot Johnny?" Debra Dickerson provides her insight, as to why she thinks Black men are stereotyped as criminals. Similarly, Brent Staples tackles the same issue in his piece titled, "Black Men and Public Space." While Staples and Dickerson touch on the same topic; each takes on the subject from a different perspective, targets a different audience, and comes to a different conclusion. In "Who Shot Johnny," the author tells her story from the perspective of an Aunt, whose nephew becomes the victim of Black-on-Black crime; as a result, he is left paralyzed from the waist down. She begins with a quick rundown of her credentials: Harvard educated, well read, affirmative action supporter, and self-confessed feminist. Because of this, it is easy to dismiss her stereotypical rants as uppity, activist talk. …show more content…
But, after reading "Who Shot Johnny?" several more times I finally got what Dickerson was trying to say, and in turn, it became my favorite essay. Having grown up in the crack and post-crack epidemic eras, I can understand Dickerson's rage. I lost several friends during these two particular times, all killed by Black males; I also lost my brother to violent crime, again, committed by a Black male. So, yeah - I get it. As for Staples, his essay made me pity him, initially. But, after reading Dickerson and coming to admire her strength, courage, and determination, I started to dislike Brent Staples. His submissive, take the path of least resistance attitude gave an effeminate view of him. I wanted him to stand up for himself and not yield his space to the people that were stereotyping