Black Men in Public Spaces Essay

When comparing my es swear situation that I wrote slightly my dads run in with racism to Staples essay, one could say that they be two similar and different. In general, their situations were similar because both incidents touch on some form of racism. Staples bill and my dads story both took place in the 1980s. However, I cerebrate these slips of racism are keep mum very much alive. The difference between Staples situation and my dads was their responses and how they chose to handle their situations. My fathers story, I tangle displayed courage on his part. He didnt shed to act a certain stylus, motley himself, or adapt to his environ custodyt to fit in. He did what he inevitable to do and did non think twice rough it. He walked into a diner full of sight who stared at him as if he were from a nonher(prenominal) planet. Yet he still went ab bulge his business and ordered his solid food while feeling the piercing stares burn through his flesh. Although he entangle un comfortable being the only Asian man in sight, he ignored the staring faces. The differences I found in their situations were that Staples coped with racism by, suffocating the rage he had to channelise who he was.This can be perceive in different ways. You can look at this and think that he was a coward who didnt want to deal with what was in front of him, or you can look at this and think that he was a new person who had courage to find his own ways to cope. We may non all agree that Staples way of dealing with things is the correct way however, it was the way he chose. He taught himself to take precaution by, allowing room between people in front of him and himself when walking, when he felt that people were uncomfortable, he would, babble melodies from Beethoven, Vivaldi, and other classical composers. Instead of dealing with being misperceived as a killer, rapist, or murderer, he adjusted his daily way of life just about others. I believe this type of racism towards unr ipened male custody is common.I am a woman, and am afraid for my life about being raped, killed, or mugged. I grab on tight to the crush of my furrow when I am in neighborhoods that are likely targets of purse snatchings. It is very common to hear about women who were raped by young males, wearing jeans, with a sweater and their hands in their pocket this is a common description of most 95% of all young males walking around late in the evening. I can relate to the women because I am a woman and I believe I would have to a fault been afraid just like Staples first victim was afraid. Shes a woman, shes walking alone, walking in a dreary alley and a male fitting thedescription I tell above is behind her also walking alone. Ive felt this type of anxiety when walking alone at night, or when I am running alone on a trail. It just isnt pencil eraser being a woman walking alone in this society. If I heard a jogger running, or someone walking behind me whistling, I too would be afraid .I believe it was wise for Staples to come up with such a creative solution. He had to do what he felt he needed to in order to survive, in order to not get arrested, or be mistaken for someone he is not and until society channels their stereotype of young African American males, his tactics for wee-wee do is a great idea. He goes on to say how black men trade stories like this all time because they are misperceived as a killer, rapist, or a mugger, they are automatically put in a position of being in danger. Staples did what he had to do to survive. Its almost as if he has found a way to add a bit of humor to the situation. Ive always believed in the saying, You cannot swap the things that are thrown your way, or others peoples actions, but what you can change is the way you fight back to them. It is easy to say wherefore do I have to change? Why cant society change, why cant others change?Yes, this maybe the answer of all answers the answer that makes the most sense impress ion however, the reality is you cant change anyone but you can change yourself and your reaction to things. I believe Staples coping strategies with being misperceived, were effective. Staples, and African American male talks of how he would walk the streets at night and would sound classical music, to ease fears of the people around him who may think hes a killer, or a mugger. He felt that he had to change his mannerisms and learn to adapt to being misperceived. Its easy to say, why should Staples change? Why cant society or everyone else change? Is it Staples responsibility as a young black man to zippy the people around him that he is not a threat? Staples also says that black men trade stories like this all the time which leads me to believe that society views the majority of African American males as dangerous.What I would do differently would be that I would probably stop going out so late at night. Staples never said in his story why he had to go out so late at night and wh y he went out alone most of the time. peradventure he worked late,or had late classes? Whatever his situation, he was unable to stay off going out late at night. In my opinion I think I would tried to avoid the situation completely. I would not go out alone and if were forced too, I would bring a friend or family member with me. Its hard to say whether I would handle things differently. I am a woman, I am not African American and I dont feel I can ever relate to what Staples went through but since we cannot change the stereotypes of society, we must(prenominal) change ourselves as a person to not let these situations make us into a bitter person, and our reaction to situations like this.