The Ability to Alter Public Spaces Essay

on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space" Brent Staples illustrates his thesis throughout the essay using specific moments where he is seen as a threat due to being tall and black. He details numerous examples that illustrates his thesis, the two-main example are: when he is mistaken as a burglar at his own job and when he is mistaken as the murder because he was black. In Just Walk On By: “A Black Man Ponders His Power To Alter Public Space Staple thesis is: due to negative stereotypes

most public sidewalks, stores, and churches are open to all sorts of people, certain types of individuals are treated like outcasts because of their race. In “Just Walk On By,” Brent Staples explains how his presence makes others scared and uncomfortable because of the assumptions put on black men. Staples tries various tactics, such as whistling and walking faster, in order to deal the way others act towards him. Staples isn't the only one to experience the power of altering public spaces. At the

How does one have the power to alter public space? Well Brent Staples explains how he learned about his “power” and how it changed that way he lived in his article, “ Just walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space”. He tells how the way people perceived him started to change the way he lived or did things. While revealing his journey of how he dealt with this new power, Staples uses varied forms of figurative language, like imagery, metaphors and vocabulary, in his writing to

Black Men and Public Space What does Staples mean when he says he has “the ability to alter public space in ugly ways” (par. 2)? Provide examples. Staples explains “The ability to alter public space in ugly ways” shows people discriminating towards him. People in his surroundings’ sees him as a bad influence because of his black. He is mistreated in many ways from people thinking he is a mugger and a rapist. Many people tend to misjudge him because he is black. Misjudging can be influenced by how

Walk On By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space" describes the accusatory altering effects of racial profiling and stereotyping occurring within the cities of Chicago. Staples purpose is to express to the reader the shift of the atmosphere when a black man enters a room. He creates an accusatory tone to show that he's an innocent man incriminated of committing crimes due to his ethnicity. Staples states “the ability to alter public space in ugly ways” he builds credibility by allowing

are often inaccurate concepts, beliefs or ideas, and imposed on a group of people, and make misunderstandings about their characteristics. Those stereotypes can negatively impact people who are being type casted. In the article “Black Male and Public Space”, Brent Staples, who is known as an editorial writer for the New York Times, shares his stories of being a black male in Chicago. He has to deal with many mistaking

Public space can easily be changed if you belong to certain minority groups that are stereotyped and devalued, such as being a person of color. Brent Staples describes his “ability to alter public space in ugly ways” in his essay “Just Walk On By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space” (239). Racial profiling is still a discernible issue in America and Staples’ essay is a perfect example of the damaging effects racial profiling has on people of color. He recounts the event that caused

Interpretive Analysis Essay Rough Draft In “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples addresses the difficulties of being a black man and how it affects his daily life. He stresses that the presence of black people in public spaces frightens white people because white people are not able to differentiate between a black person from a mugger or a thug. After years of fighting over the meaning of race in our country, many may think that it is not as relevant of a problem as it once was, yet this

delicate atmosphere. A black man entering a room, or any space, full of white people, can automatically transform the ambiance. This ‘ability’ may not be a desired effect, but in certain situations, it becomes inevitable. Through the use of different rhetorical devices, Brent Staples is able to demonstrate his realization of his “ability to alter public space in ugly ways” simply because of his race and stature in his essay, “Black Men and Public Space.” Staples uses the rhetorical techniques ethos, logos

In the short story “Black Men in Public Spaces” by Brent Staples, Brent explains his life of being an unknown black man in a public space. Brent focuses his passage on the negativity he receives from the other ethnic groups. He illuminates their reactions of anger and fear. In the short story “Strangers in The Village” by James Baldwin, Baldwin explains his amusing emotion to the prejudice comments that are being made about him. Baldwin’s emotions were positive and humorous. Though both authors encounter