"Black Men and Public Space" is a short narrative written by Brent Staples. Staples begins by stating his first "victim" was a white woman in Chicago. As she avoids him hastily, Staples comes to realize that she is frightened by his appearance; large, black and intimidating. As a result, she perceives him to be some sort of mugger or rapist, much to his anxiety. Since he instills fear merely by his presence, he is in an awkward and potentially dangerous situation. Other incidents, which include people mistaking him for a burglar, only made Staples more weary of the hostilities. To curb his anxiety, he uses non-threatening behavior such as whistling to curb any uneasy encounter he might have with white people; especially women. Thus, in this essay Staples wants to convey how he was profiled by white strangers, how it evolved into a potentially dangerous situation, and how any uneasy situation that may arise can be avoided through docile and casual behavior. The main underlining issue addressed in this essay is racial stereotype, and what dangerous implications it has on black males.
             Now what is racial stereotype? All kinds of people produce racial stereotypes about themselves and others. That is, people simplify the intellectual images they maintain of specific ethnic groups, including their own, often in cruel or damaging ways. In "Black Men and Public Space" Staples often portrays his frustration over being a victim of racial stereotype. He begins on an effective note which sets the tone of the entire essay by stating, "My first victim was a woman" (1). He goes on to explain how she was intimidated by his overall appearance, black, tall and disheveled, obviously motivated by a pre-conceived notion that all black males were to be treated skeptically. Staples shows his frustration as being "labeled" by saying, " as a softy who is scarcely ab
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