I have decided to write about "Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space" By Brent Staples. This essay is basically about judging a book by its cover. As a black man living in and working in the city as a journalist, he is stereotyped by many people on the streets. Hes basically saying dont judge me just because he is a black male living in the city. No he is not a rapist, mugger, dead beat, panhandler etc...
The first paragraph of Staples essay talks about how a young women felt threatened with her life by a young black male, whom happened to share the sidewalk with her. But he later states "Within seconds she disappears into a cross street." Im not sure if it meant that she just took a detour so she can avoid this guy or if it was really the path she takes from point "A" to point "B".
Further into his essay Staples mentions "I could cross in front of a car stopped at a traffic light and elicit the thunk thunk thunk thunk of the driver - black, white, male or female- hammering down the door lock." Black males have always been pegged as a stereotype. It doesnt matter what they have accomplished in their life, someone or everyone will always have a negative attitude towards them in the back of their minds. People do it all the time, even when deny it, it is subconciously being done. He basically asks us to not judge but to open your eyes and accept that times are changing. It has gotten to the point where he has changed or altered his image so that he is not belittled or threatens society. He has exchanged his jeans for a pair of slacks and instead of bobbing your head to the music of your headphones, he has hummed verses from classic music. Hes making a change so why cant we.
