In “Just Walk on By:
A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space
” Brent Staples
What is Staples argument in just walk on by?
The message that Brent Staples is trying to convey to the audience in his essay Just Walk On By, is that
as a society we have positive and negative preconceived thoughts of other people who are of either the same or different race and gender
.
What is Staples thesis does he state it or imply it?
Staples’s implied thesis is that
black men are overwhelmingly perceived as a threat in public spaces on the basis of their race
.
What is Staples thesis in black men and public space?
Thesis: In the story “Black Men in Public Space,” the author, Brent Staples, uses anecdotes, tone, imagery, and metaphors to explore the themes of racism and stereotyping.
Staples contends that people are too quick to judge other based on their appearance without getting to know who they are
.
Why does Staples walk the streets at night?
Staples walks the streets at night
because he has trouble sleeping
. He walks everywhere in an effort to tire himself out. 4. Staples suggests that in our society, men are supposed to be powerful and have the ability to intimidate.
What does Staples subdued tone tell you about his character?
What does Staples’ subdued tone tell you about his character?
He is more concerned with how the public thinks of him and wants to fit in
. 5. Do you think we make false assumptions that people are up to no good if they are on the street late at night, even if they have a good reason for doing so?
Who is the audience in just walk on by Brent Staples?
The audience is
both the black men who are victims to stereotypes
and also people who use stereotypes towards black men & fear them for no reason.
When was just walk on by published?
in psychology from the University of Chicago and went on to become a journalist. The following essay originally appeared in Ms. Magazine in
1986
, under the title “Just Walk On By.” Staples revised it slightly for publication in Harper’s a year later under the present title.
What does staples mean by unwieldy inheritance?
According to the context the “unwieldy inheritance” seems to be “
the ability to alter public space in ugly ways
”. (It was in the echo of that terrified woman’s footfalls that I first began to know the unwieldy inheritance I’d come into–the ability to alter public space in ugly ways.
Why does Staples whistle melodies from classical composers?
(JWB) Staples cites the example of “melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi and the more popular classical composers” to
allude to music with which his audience is likely to be familiar
. … (LBJ) The audience of this letter is clergy, American citizens, and the world.
Why does Staples mention Norman Podhoretz could he make the same points without referring to Podhoretz essay?
Could he make the same points without referring to Podhoretz’s essay? Staples mentions Norman Podhoretz
as a promoter of making african americans as bad people
. He can make the same point without mentioning Podhoretz but, including the standpoint of a racist leader makes his essay stronger.
What tone does Brent Staples use in just walk on by?
Staples describes some personal experiences where he was misjudge or thought of as a criminal because of his skin color. His essay is driven by emotions and anger. Brent changes his tone of writing from being
sarcastic to bitter and than polite
.
What does in an otherwise mean?
1 if not, or else, or then. 2 any other way,
contrarily, differently
.
What does an accomplice in tyranny mean?
A person who helps another commit a crime
. Ex. 1: “Her flight made me feel like an accomplice in tyranny” (1).
Where Fear and Weapons Meet and they often do in urban America?
Staples writes “where fear and weapons meet— and they often do in urban America—there
is always the possibility of death
” (Staples 224). Stereotyping can be dangerous because it may cause chaos and violence in the society. The way he coped with this situation was a good way because it was safe for him.
What is Brent Staples just walk on by summary?
In “Just Walk on By: A
Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space
”, Brent Staples explains the impact he has on other people just for being an African American man. Writing for an audience of black men who have experienced discrimination.
