Staples emphasizes that “Black men have a firm place in New York mugging literature” which has been instilled by the dominant culture who act as victims by stating they recall “growing up in terror of black males” (465). Thus, otherness in society, in terms of color, is almost always looked down upon and perceived as dangerous where as the dominant culture is rarely looked as in such way. People of color are frequently accused of doing wrong even if they are clearly doing no such thing. In fact, Staples explains about an incident in which he was unreasonably accused of being a mugger at a jewelry store. Staples’ skin color immediately caused the “proprietor [to] excuse herself and return with an enormous red Doberman Pinscher” (291).
In Brent Staples’s essay “Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Ability to Alter Public Space”, Staples explains how black men are discriminated against in public through the events that happened in his own life and the lives of others. Brent Staple says that stereotypes usually mislead and have bad effects. He says that stereotypes affect the stereotyper. People perceived that Staples was - a black man - as a mugger or sometime even a rapist just because the color of his skin, especially white woman with well dressed, and in her early twenties. The author was known as a night walker.
Redefining Stereotypes In Brent Staples essay, “Black Men and Public Spaces” he candidly examines his experiences of being a stereotyped black man. Always feeling like he has to avoid others, or walk on the opposite side of the street just to make people feel comfortable around him. Staples’ personal accounts as well as the life he lived and the things he witnessed as a child influenced the thoughts and ideas for his essay. Through his quick establishment of his own authority and the tones he uses makes this essay literarily effective. Right away, Staples begins claiming authority.
These hoaxes amplify society’s image of the criminalblackman. These white-on-black racial hoaxes are often times believed immediately because society finds it highly likely that a black person did indeed commit the crime. Often times the perpetrators of these racial hoaxes are only charged with filing a false police report, if any charges are brought at all. In the event the perpetrator is charged with the crime they are trying to cover up, it is less likely that any additional charges will be filed for the hoax since they are already being charged with the more serious crime. Typically there is not amends of any kind made to the person or the community that has been affected by the hoax; not even a simple apology.
In Brent Staple’s essay, Black Men in Public Spaces, he targets a wide variety of audiences in American society. Through his personal experiences Staples eloquently discusses the discrimination faced by black men in the elite, white social class. Not only does Staples prove his point that racism and fear of black people are ever present, but he shows the other side of the argument, specifically why white women are afraid of black men. His vivid scenarios and sense of alienation add to his very valid points. Brent Staples reached his audience on not only a personal, but public level as well.
Michael Dyson revealed a disparity between the media’s portrayal of blacks and whites after the hurricane Katrina calamity. In addition Dyson specifically highlights the racist remarks about African Americans as lawless thugs. The photographs really demonstrated how important the captions are presented: the media identified African Americans as criminal and savage while the White Americans were “surviving”. Dyson (2006) explained that the opinion stated towards the two photographs in which the captions say it all: the young black man “loots” his groceries while the white youths “find” theirs. In effect, society is influenced into thinking through biased assumptions that the young black man is guilty and the white youths remain innocent.
As his character develops in the novel, he comes across as calm, empathetic and nonjudgmental. He also is one of the few who can see things from another’s point of view. In the 1930s in America, racism was a big issue based on discrimination against black people. Most white people, in the novel discriminate against the black people because they fail to see life from their point of view. As the reader begins to see the unfairness of the actions against black people, mostly because of Atticus’ speech, the theme of discrimination is developed through the motive of ‘walking around in their shoes.’ The title, To Kill A Mockingbird is very symbolic and meaningful.
King says to black people wait almost always meant "never" and "justice too long delayed is justice denied." 6. King finds it illogical that the actions of his followers precipitate violence because it’s like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery and society should protect the robbed and punish the robber. Purpose and Audience 1. In the first paragraph, King establishes his setting as the Birmingham City Jail and defines
In Brent Staples essay entitled Black Men and Public Space, he discusses issues of him being racially profiled on several occasions, and because of this he had been falsely considered a threat on these occasions (Staples). With all the negativity in the media and in movies surrounding racial prejudice and profiling over the years it is only natural to assume that if someone was found to be in the same situations discussed in this essay they would probably react similarly to everyone described by Staples. For some people in Staple’s situation it is possible that they may even get angry and turn violent which would only make the stereotypes true, but for him he chose the alternative, which was to be a little more understanding of the situations by doing things that made these individuals around him feel safe and comfortable, i.e. whistling Beethoven or just giving them a little extra room when on his night walks. This essay also raises a good question, should it be ok for law enforcement or the government to use racial profiling to make arrest or to just simply stop someone because of their race?
This is a pretty racist stereotype that Jean is giving off, she immediately fears the black men believing that they are criminals for no other reason than that they are black. However, Jeans racist thoughts are almost rationalized when the black men do indeed car jack the Cabots’. This incident, where the black men live up to the portrayed stereotype that Jean gives them is why people like Jean exist. Jean also is prejudice towards the Hispanic lock smith that comes to their house. Jean judges him strictly off his ethnicity, clothing, and hairstyle.