Brent Staples writes about his problems as a young African American man and society’s fear of him in “Black Men and Public Space”. Yet, Staples introduces himself as a shady character with the words “My first victim was a woman”, which contrasts with the purpose of the essay. In some ways, Staples may have accepted that he does have victims who he incites fear in. Of course, not on purpose, but just because of the way he dresses and the color of his skin. Staples traumatic experiences, which are mentioned later in the story in a more general manner, portray his social isolation. The best part of the essay is that Staples approaches his frightening and pitiful topic with a calm and almost neutral tone. Staples’ tone portrays his acceptance of the fact that this is his life. Though, this acceptance may be a weakness in character, Staples acknowledges he was never a fighter, and that he lives “timidly to survive”. Although, in the last metaphoric sentence, Staples portrays his frustration at people by comparing them to wild bears. This metaphor creates the effect of Staples being in danger of wild animals.
Staples’ story reminds me of my “Middle School” essay. Staples portrays society’s idiocracy and stubbornness similar to my essays portrayal. While I was reading I noticed the fluidity of his essay. The easy change and lack of direct self-analysis allows the reader to decide who is in the wrong. I’ve realized that maybe in my essay I should focus less on telling readers my anger towards my past, and more towards portraying to the reader what I lived through in a calm and almost neutral tone.
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