Racism In Staple's Just Walk On By Brent Staples

Racism isn't born, it is taught! This essay "Just walk on by Brent Staples" is written in the mid 70's when racism was at its peak. Racism is not only common today it's been a part of American history. Staples works as a journalist in a predominantly white society. This essay deals with racism, stereotypes, and prejudice. In this essay, he demonstrates to the reader using his own experiences, how stereotypes based on sex and skin color can change the mind of one person and how it can influence many other people. Staples fears about how his appearance and his color make people think of him as a harmful person. a beard and billowing hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a bulky military jacket- he also mentions that he possesses an indulgent

When Staples was growing up he has experienced a lot of hatred. Even from the young age, he is treated as a threat. He has narrated different encounters with different people in different cities, and the reaction was always the same. He describes how he has always been discriminated against for being a black journalist. As a black human male, Staples feels like he is walking on eggshells everywhere he goes. "a broad six feet two inches with a beard and billowing hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a bulky military jacket. He is just an innocent person living in New York who is judged by the way he looks and acts through a stereotype. Throughout his life, Staples describes many moments in which he was looked upon as a villain due to presumptions from the color of his

He is not living a life of a normal people. He is dealing with different people of different nature. Staples never knows who is going to injure him or makes a false accusation about him. he was facing racism, discrimination, and prejudice all at the same time. He is living in that era where all black people are treated as violent, disrespectful and harmful. Staples explains that the woman's quick getaway when she saw him on a street at night following him, made him feel like "an accomplice in tyranny" that was "indistinguishable from the muggers." Although he said a person who doesn't even know how to use a knife how can he harm anyone? How he is thrown out of his own office just because guard assumes him as a burglar. He later explains how he portraits himself less threatening by taking measure precautions like the whistles around the people just to show positive ethos and to make people comfortable around