Multiple Experiences In Brent Staples's Black Men And Public Spaces

Racial prejudice began an undoubtedly winding journey, meandering through decade after decade. In the Norton Reader 14th Edition the personal narrative "Black Men and Public Spaces" by Brent Staples describes the multiple experiences he had with being racially stereotyped and how it affected not only him, but also other black men in society. His specific experiences become imperative to the meaning and all inclusive power of narrative, bringing to women 's attention that not all black men pose a threat. By revealing his emotions, Staples creates a multifaceted narrative expressing the effects of the misfortunate events of his life by using imagery and specific diction.
Through the use of specific diction Staples ' depicts the misfortunes

His description of the people "hammering down the door locks" brings upon a fleeting image of civilians in their car smashing down on their door locks as hard as they can making sure that Staples can 't get anywhere near them (141). Staples ' use if those words reveals not only the fright in the people, but also their inability to understand that he means no harm. Later in the narrative Staples discloses that with each encounter he has had to learn how to "smother the rage" that he was feeling (143). By saying this he gives readers an opportunity to conjure up an image of someone balling their fist tightly to the side of their body as if to hold themselves back from lashing out. Staples knows that he has to control himself and not let his anger get the best of him, because if it did then he would truly become the predator that society labeled him

Once it became dark and he was no longer in a suit and tie, he was now a 'criminal '. He stresses the fear that people feel when he is around when he talks about people locking their car doors as he passes by. The loud "thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk" represents the locks being slammed down with force to make sure that they are shut properly and that an intruder can not get in (141). Staples ' exaggeration of this sound notifies readers of the severity of the terror that people in the cars are feeling, but it also represents their lack of judgement and ignorance towards him. Staples gives no indication that he is going to turn to the cars and rush towards them and try to attack the people, yet they lock their doors. Just like the woman in Hyde Park, they too judged him based off of his appearance never bothering to consider the fact that maybe just like any other person, he is just trying to cross the street and get to his