Brent Stuglass: The Lives Of Staples And Douglass

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The Lives of Staples and Douglass Every individual has been given a position in society; they experience different challenges to come to an understanding in where they stand. Two authors known for coming to terms in where they are placed in society are Frederick Douglass, a prominent African American who escaped slavery and became a leader of an abolitionist movement; and Brent Staples, a victim of racial profiling.Douglass spoke about his life as a slave in the passage “Learning to Read and Write” and how he came to accept the life he lives in his society. Staples spoke about his experience of being labeled based on his appearance and how he presents himself in the passage “Just Walk on By” and how he came to terms with the challenges he
Staples and Douglass both feel as though other people in society judged them based on the color of their skin and how they appeared. The people feel as though both the authors are a threat to society. Douglass was judged because he was not white and he was a slave he was stripped of his rights because how he appeared to everyone around him. In the passage Douglass mentions “From this time I was most narrowly watched. If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give a bank account of myself” (144). Douglass came to conclusions that there was nothing he can do to change what the ones around him think of him and that he would always have restrictions such as not being allowed to read. This shows that society is judging him based on his appearance and it shows that society believes that he has no right. This helps readers see how society treats Douglass and how they feel as though he is a threat it also helps readers infer that if it were to be a white person in his shoes they would not suffer nearly as
Society also thinks of Staples as a threat and feels as though he should not have rights like the ones around him. Others also feel as though he is dangerous and think that he is capable of doing harmful acts. Staples mentions in the passage “After a few more quick glimpses, she picked up her pace and was soon running in earnest. Within seconds she disappeared into the cross street” (357). Staples figures there is not anything he can do to solve this issue and his conclusion was to change the way he acts around people so they are no longer afraid.This shows that society fears him and do not want anything to do with him. The ones around him try to get away from him as quick as possible that shows that they think of him as a threat and want to keep their distance. This helps readers understand the text by showing them that they fear him because they run away and keep their distance because they see him as a nuisance and someone to

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