Brent Staples

The essay Black Men and Public Space by Brent Staples is very relatable to my life. I feel that it is easy to follow the essay since I live a similar life to Brent Staples every day because I am also African American. I read the everyday conflicts Staples goes through during his life in Chicago and New York and it was almost like I was him. Staples talks about how his skin color and the way he looks makes him seem like a threat to the general public. It seems that it is human nature to generalize and stereotype based on race or the way someone looks. Brent Staples wrote, “ I was surprised, embarrassed, and dismayed all at once.” (189) When talking about his first victim at age twenty- two. I agree and understand how Staples feels even though I am only a nineteen-year-old average height and solid build boy. I have felt the same way when out in public and I encounter “ the ability to alter public space in ugly ways.” (188) For example, I go to the as much as I can and it’s normal to have on a tank top walking around getting a workout in but I’ve noticed after leaving the gym I get awkward stares if I go to the food court in the mall to grab a bite to eat. I see

The owner of the business takes Staples as threat and “ excused herself and returned with an enormous red Doberman pinscher straining at the end of a leash.” (190) Staples has only walked in this store to kill time. In my own experience, I have walked in a store and the business owner followed me around the store watching my every move. However, even though this angers me I try to laugh it off in a way in order to stay calm. I understand a business owner is only trying to protect his/her store but I would never be one to steal or take something that is not mine. Society stereotypes certain races for crimes and problems like this so often when I walk in a store all eyes are on me until I exit the