Whistling Vivaldi Chapter 2 Summary

The Book Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele is a book about confronting and acknowledging stereotypes. As well as trying to find ways to curb stereotypes in today's society. In the first 3 chapters Steele discusses his experience with stereotyping as a young black man in Chicago. He speaks of his friends experiences from their youth. As well as discussing research he and his colleagues have conducted over his career. Trying to figure out what causes stereotype, how it affects individuals, what we can do to eliminate it, and does it affect everyone the same in all situations. Chapter 1 titled “At the root of identity” begins with Steele speaking of his experience as a young black child growing up in Chicago's Hyde Park. He recalls that as a young boy he could only go swimming in the community pool on Wednesdays. He speaks to how this racial segregation was all around him but he did not realize the true meaning of it. He was able to see that he was treated differently but did not really know or question why. Only as he got older did he begin

In his recollection Staples refers to his time when he was ignorant to the fact that people viewed him differently as a black man. One part that stood out to me was when Staples said, “I'd been a fool. I’d been walking the streets grinning good evening to people who frightened to death of me” (Steele pg.6). This realization for Staples as i see it very much adds to the main point and idea of Whistling Vivaldi. It showed that when Staples did not realize he was being discriminated against he was happy and content just being himself, but once it came to his attention he had to make an effort to change himself and try to overcome the stereotype. It reinforces a theme throughout the first three chapters that when the stereotype is not know or present there is little effect on people, but as soon as it is out in the open it begins to affect people