Black Men And Public Space

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Black Men and Public Space“Black Men and Public Space” is an essay that elaborates the struggles of African Americans against prejudice while living in neighborhoods where mostly whites are living. Staples (132) describes various encounters where he was mistaken for a criminal. This automatic labeling raises a lot of feelings for him because he considers himself a law-abiding person. However, towards the end, Staples develops coping mechanisms that reduce the suspicion most people have regarding him (134). This essay describes how assumptions can affect all the parties involved because they might end up to be physically harmed or emotionally scarred.
Staples’ essay is highly effective in stating the plight of a continuously segregated group in the society. Staples explains the first time a lady ran away from him. This act left him bewildered and shocked (133). He consistently feared for his life because he associates panic with violence. Staples also describes an encounter of another journalist who was mistaken for a killer and immediately arrested (134). All these encounters served to anger Staples, but he eventually had to curb the anger and adopt methods that made him less suspicious, like whistling a familiar tune while walking at night (135).
Recently, a New Jersey sheriff along with some of his subordinates was forced to step down after a recording of him making racist remarks leaked. The officer was reluctant to leave at first, but public outcry has made him leave his post.

This incidence emphasizes how relevant Staples’ essay is to the modern society. The various scenarios described in this piece still occur to some African Americans in America.
Conclusively, Staples’ article is productive in pointing out how prejudice affects the minority group either psychologically or physically. Instead of shunning people who are different from most of the individuals in a community, community members should embrace them. Everybody has something to contribute to society, and they deserve a chance to do so.

Work Cited
Staples, Brent. “Black Men and Public Space.” Life studies (1992): 132-35.