Nandini Narayan
April 29th, 2013
Section 1
Brent Staples wrote Black Men in Public Spaces, because he wanted us to learn how we
view the black race, about how our mind is claimed by discrimination, and how we
innately act when African American people are around even though we may not notice our
actions ourselves. The tone he uses in his writing and the examples he gives in his daily
life, shows us a point of view few people think about and are able to comprehend.
Brent Staples does not express anger toward people who treat him like a criminal. Nor
does he blame himself and complain about being a person of color. He rationalizes when
people “lock car door quote” or when women “women quote”. He tries to understand
where there are coming from and he makes his commutes at times where he thinks there
will not be as many people. He also tries to give people space while he travels. He secludes
into the shell of a turtle because people have a judgmental picture on what rapist or burglar
look like in their head. This picture is created by the media and floods people’s minds.
Then without realizing it people have created a subconscious fear of one particular race
that they then react with in everyday situations.
He is allowing this behavior around him and letting people treat him the way they do
without complaint, makes you realize he is a calm person. “quote about not looking for
trouble.” He only wants peace in life, which makes him walk away from situations that
