Just Walk on by - Brent Staples Essays - 1305 Words

Morgan Allen Ms. Mayo ENG 101-1035 30 October 2012 Just Walk on By In Brent Staples’ essay, â€Å"Just Walk on By† the author describes his experiences, feelings, and reactions towards the discrimination he has faced throughout his life as a black man. Staples describes several different personal experiences of when he felt that he had been judged or discriminated against by other people based on the color of his skin and how that contributed to his overall appearance. Staples has continuously been perceived as a danger or criminal simply because of his skin color, leading him to have to deal with many uncomfortable situations. The author has even gone so far as to take precautions when he is on the street just so that he will not be†¦show more content†¦He compares himself to a shadow, helping describe the horrible persona that has been attached to him. He has no way of escaping the dangerous character that people have created for him. He later compares his whistling to cowbells, as a warning to the people aro und him. Staples whistles sophisticated tunes to lessen his dangerous persona. The use of metaphors is a common practice and it is very effective. Using metaphors as a literary device immediately paints a picture in a audience’s mind and makes envisioning the main character that much simpler. Comparing himself to a shadow connects a reader instantly with his personality and while he may be timid, it is also apparent that he has another side to him that everyone may not be aware of. I feel that the use of these metaphors help to lighten the mood of the essay and creates a more playful feeling throughout the essay. Along in with the author’s use of metaphors is the frequent use of imagery. In this reading, it is simple to envision the scenes as the different scenarios are explained and the audience can easily picture Staples in the places he is describing and also the people he comes across. Perhaps the most powerful and memorable imagery is provided in the authorâ€℠¢s description of people’s different reactions and faces when they come into contact with him. Actions speak volumes and an immediate change of facial expression is possibly one of theShow MoreRelatedJust Walk On By, By Brent Staples1014 Words   |  5 Pagesare a tall black man that walks alone in the dark you could be a mugger, rapist, or even worse. Brent Staples, the author of â€Å"Just Walk on By†, has felt this discrimination his whole life. Throughout his essay he explains how others have discriminated against him and judged him based on his skin color and how he walks alone in the dark. As his essay continues, he writes about how after being ran away from and watching others cross the street so they didn’t have to walk past him, he began to hum symphonyRead MoreJust Walk On By Brent Staples Essay1357 Words   |  6 PagesIn his essay, Just Walk on By Brent Staples explains how throughout his life, it is hard being a black man without having others di scriminate against him because he is a tall, black man who works as a journalist in a predominantly white field. In Ta-Nehisi Coates book Between the World and Me Coates is addressing his son about the truth of being black in a society that is inherently races and the constructed stereotypes on them by those in power. Both Coates and Staples agree on the fact thatRead More`` Just Walk On By `` Brent Staples984 Words   |  4 PagesIn his one of the most known articles, â€Å"Just Walk on By,† Brent Staples tries to touch readers’ hearts with his emotional words and an optimistic character. He points out an important yet normally disregarded issue of our society. He shows how a black man’s character is viewed in the society; they are mostly seen as thieves, robbers, rapists, muggers and as many other criminal personalities. However, Staples believes he is not one of those and supposes that all black men are not similar to how theyRead MoreAnalysis Of Just Walk O n By Brent Staples715 Words   |  3 Pages Text E1 is titled just walk on by, written by Brent Staples. He was born in Chester Pennsylvania and was an author/editorial for the new york times. The text is an essay and was written in 1986 while the major events of racial profiling and brutality were a big issue. Throughout Brents life, as an African-American, he lived with being discriminated and verbally abused by other races for example, whites. In the text he tells the how he feels when people run away from him or how he feels when whitesRead MoreJust Walk On By Brent Staples Analysis740 Words   |  3 Pagesbecause of their race. In â€Å"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 isnt the only one to experience the power of altering public spaces. At the beach last spring break, I realized that I also had an ugly affect on others because of my presence. Like Staples, I tried different waysRead MoreAnalysis Of Just Walk On By Brent Staples1653 Words   |  7 Pagesinto – the ability to alter public space in ugly ways.† Just Walk On By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space, was written by Brent Staples. Staples was born in 1951 in Chester, Pennsylvania. He graduated Widener University with a B.A degree in behavioral science and the University of Chicago with a Ph.D. in psychology (History). To white people, specifically white women, any person of color is seen as a threat to them. Staples wrote this narrative argument to show that people of colorRead MoreAnalysis Of Just Walk On By Brent Staples1030 Words   |  5 PagesBrent Staples’ essay titled, â€Å"Just Walk On By†, really impacted and resonated with me. His essay was about the many discriminations that African Americans face every day. He was able to deliver this powerful me ssage by telling the story of how he faced stereotypes and racial profiling almost all the time. He describes how just a simple walk at night could threaten and frighten a local white civilian. Every day he was seen as a dangerous and outlawed criminal because of the color of his skin. HeRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Just Walk On By Brent Staples 941 Words   |  4 Pagesthe essay â€Å"Just Walk on By†, by Brent Staples, Staples makes the generalized claim that both caucasians and african americans, including Staples himself, contribute to the stereotyping of black men, as all around shady characters, in their own way, however, not all black men fit the stereotype. The first, and main portion of his essay, Staples spends supporting the first part of his thesis, that both caucasians and african americans contribute to the stereotype in their own way. Staples explains howRead MoreJust Walk On By Black Men And Public Space By Brent Staples1433 Words   |  6 PagesJust walk on by Black Men and Public Space by Brent Staples is an interesting and captivating piece of writing. His publication captures one s interest and makes a person think about the role of prejudice in his or her daily interactions. It is full of metaphors, which achieves the desired figurative effect. The Declaration of Independence, on the other hand, is the founding document of the traditions of the politics of the United States (Lucas). It clearly explains the fundamental ideas that constituteRead Moreâ€Å"Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space† by Brent Staples1449 Words   |  6 Pages In Brent Staples’ Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space, Staples describes the issues, stereotypes, and criticisms he faces being a black man in public surroundings. Staples initiates his perspective by introducing the audience in to thinking he is committing a crime, but eventually reveals how the actions taken towards him are because of the fear linked to his labelled stereotypes of being rapists, gangsters and muggers. Staples continues to unfold the audience from a 20 year old experience