Friday, March 13, 2015
Just Walk on By
Read Just Walk on By written by Ben Staples. It addresses the issue of racial and gender profiling which have become particularly significant in the United States over the past several months. What rhetorical devices does the author use and how do they make the piece more effective? And AP Language students must be good citizens. How do you think this piece is relevant today?
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This article makes me upset as it describes the problems dealing with race and gender. Men can be scary, and it is true that some people cannot be trusted. Although this is true, many people are discriminated against or simply ignored because of the way that they look. I find this blog timing to be very ironic, because the other night, I was watching a show called Brain Games, which did tests on random people in the audience and the viewers watching at home. One of the tests was that of trust and disposition. Two pictures were split in half and mismatched so that each of the new pictures contained half of a man's face and half of a women's. The people in the pictures chosen had similar features, and at the end of the test, the one that every audience member asked thought had a happier disposition was the picture with the man on the right side and the half of the woman's face on the left. I am not familiar with how the brain works, but trust had something to do with one side of the brain, and when the man's face was on the left side, it stuck out more and made the picture a lot scarier.
ReplyDeleteIn this particular article, the black man cause a women to run, people to lock their car doors, and a police man to accuse him of robbery. This topic is relevant today because rape and robbery cause many issues, and someone has to commit the crime. The first suspect in these cases was the man, because as soon as the space between him and another person became limited, they became suspicious and afraid. The way that Ben Staples presented this topic was captivating because he used many examples and antidotes. He told of stories from the past, both of himself and of other black men. Although blacks are considered equal to whites, racism is still an issue. Girls especially must be very cautious when they walk the streets at night, and it is not their fault that they have these feelings. In a society as scary and dangerous as this, it is good to take precautions. On the other side of the story, not all men are "thugs" and must be treated like a person with proper dignity. Staples had the great idea of whistling or humming classical music to comfort the people around him. He used an analogy to compare the noises he makes to a cowbell on an individual in a bear infested forest. On top of these rhetorical devices, the use of first person personalized the article and appeals to pathos. It is actually happening out there whether it is realized or not.
Today, rape is a huge issue. Jenna Buhite did an entire presentation on college rape alone, and it does not stop there. Men are scary to me, even though they are not always the mean ones. Like the Brain Games explained, men's feature trigger fear. This topic reminded me of The Blind Side movie. Big Mike was not a thug, although he lived among them. He wanted to do no harm but he did not have a good place to stay. The family that took him in worried about their daughter and their items that might be stolen. Mike ended up becoming their child and living completely different from his biological family. This is a movie, but it really did happen recently, proving the relevance of the topic.
We are required to be good citizens, but it is a natural instinct to protect ourselves from fear. Tall men are terrifying, but they probably do not want to scare people. Because it is impossible to know everybody in the world, the ones that we do know need to be treated with respect. Small and snarky racism jokes should be halted as soon as they are heard coming out of a person's mouth. People should be loved no matter what they look like or what they did. Forgiveness is a big part of a peaceful society, and where there is peace there is less fear. We can start at the smaller level by testing everyone the same, and from there, it will spread.
I completely agree that it is only natural for women to fear men simply due to the fact that many times, men have given women reasons to be afraid. That being said, I also believe that men need to understand this fact, and to take less offense to women's reactions. It is true that many times, it had been the men who have instigated the crimes against women, and because of this, women are given reason for being afraid. However, women should not take it upon themselves to treat every man as though he were a criminal. This is the point where it becomes wrong. Yes, it is almost necessary for women to take precautions when encountering unfamiliar men on their own. But this cautiousness must not cause them to view all men differently. For example, if a woman were to walk past a sketchy looking man on the street, and then return home and tell her family "that man was going to rape me because he looked scary," she would be in the wrong, for the man truthfully did nothing to her. However if she were to treat the situation with care and reach the conclusion that the man was simply an innocent passerby, she really would not be stereotyping as much as protecting herself.
DeleteI think the fact that men's features on the left side of their faces are more intimidating than the feature of their right is fascinating. Men's features are extremely capable of inspiring fear in other people, especially women. Physical attributes contribute to emotional responses, and this is in part where stereotyping comes from. How many times has an older white man with a mustache been labelled as a pedophile? With only physical characteristics as evidence, people make judgements about complete strangers. Men, as a gender, have long been portrayed as physically impressive and powerful. These attributes remain connected to the male gender from a time when the strength of a man determined whether or not he and his family would survive. In today's society, strength is no longer necessary for survival, and seeing a man with great physical prowess can be intimidating. This fear contributes to the mind's label of that person. Since their appearance makes one afraid, they will probably be stereotyped as a dangerous person.
DeleteGrace, I love how you used the comparison to Brain Games. I sometimes watch that show and it is very fascinating. I believe that many people, like the show shows, that many can be terrifying in certain situations. Imagine you are all alone in an ally and a motherly figure appears, you do not feel frightened you feel calm and safe. However if you see a male down the ally you will feel fear because you assume the worst is going to happen. This is what I believe people do when they are put in situations where discrimination occurs because of the mentality of the thoughts.
DeleteGrace, I love Brain Games. I watch it all the time because I find the workings of our brain so interesting. I also think that appearance has a lot to do with the perception of people. For example, my grandma will not go into Hot Topic because it scares her. However, the workers in that store are so helpful and nice. These are the people that have huge gauges and are covered in tattoos. These situations always make me laugh because they just revert right back to the don't judge a book by its cover saying.
DeleteThis article gave me a new perspective about the stereotyping that occurs when certain men walk the streets at night, and how this stereotyping carries over into their everyday lives. The author used many rhetorical devices to enhance his story and convey his message. Without them, his stance on stereotyping would not have made such an impression on the reader. Through his skillful presentation, the author offers the reader a chance to see this issue in a new way.
ReplyDeleteThe major rhetorical device the author used was anecdote. In order to help the reader understand how prevalent and personal the issue was, Staples told stories about himself and others that supported his ideas. He told stories about what personally happened to him while he walked, when he was pulled over by a cop, and when he worked. In order to make these stories as vivid as possible, he used other rhetorical devices within them such as onomatopoeia and imagery. These anecdotes appealed to pathos because they helped the reader relate to the author, and understand his situation. The author also used analogies in his writing. The most effective analogy was the final sentence, when he compared his whistling to bear bells. This analogy perfectly conveyed the author's message. It likened the author to a hiker and everyone else on the street to bears. The people on the street think that the author is dangerous, just as bears think hikers are dangerous, but the whistling helps them realize that he is not dangerous, just as the bells do the same for the bears.
This topic is relevant today because stereotyping is a major problem in our society. In my opinion, those who suffered the most when they walked late were women. When a woman walks alone at night, she is perceived as defenseless, weak, and an easy target. She must be prepared for an attack of any sort because of how she is stereotyped. In order to protect herself, she views everyone as a possible attacker, and tries not to draw attention to herself. This whole situation is wrong. Women should not have to protect themselves from everyone else when they are out alone. Women should be able to walk without feeling threatened by every man who is on the streets with them.
This article showed me that the men who walk late are also stereotyped, and forced to act in certain ways. Men who walk late are not all muggers or rapists. The author suffered from insomnia, and wanted to walk when he could not sleep at night. Due to his gender and race, he was viewed as a violent person even though he was just walking at night. In order to counteract this view, he changed his behavior so he appeared less threatening. When he walked, he whistled classical songs so that other people would relax. He tried to avoid situations where people would feel threatened by him, such as one on one encounters. Each of these scenarios show how stereotyping can radically alter the behavior of people, even though the stereotype is incorrect.
Despite the negative consequences of stereotyping, I do not believe it will ever truly stop. Stereotyping is instinctual, arising from a need to determine how a person is likely to act and decide whether or not they are a threat. Whenever the brain sees someone new, it makes a quick series of judgements to determine if they are safe or not based on past experience and other factors. This is the essence of stereotyping. However, I do believe that human beings can overcome the stereotypes that they create, and the ones they are given. Just because we give stereotypes does not mean that we have to act upon them. When human beings stop acting on their judgements, the negative aspects of stereotyping will be gone.
I agree with your statement that stereotyping will never truly cease. Even in modern society, it is still as prevalent as ever. Twitter accounts titled "Typical White Girl" depict Starbucks coffee and UGG boots and claim that every "white girl" indulges in such things. Black people too are mentioned as having specific characteristics that really are not very accurate. Obviously, this is not nearly as offensive as the stereotypes discussed in this article, but it shows clearly that racial stereotypes truly are alive and well in our society, despite the progress made in regards to racial equality. It seem that no matter how hard we try to omit them, stereotypes are and always will be a part of our lives. Perhaps this is due to the fact that there are always those who continue to prove the accuracy of these stereotypes. Or perhaps it is because people find security in categorizing others. Regardless of the reasoning regarding the persistence of stereotypes, it is clear that they are not preparing to cease anytime in the near future.
DeleteAshley, I agree that women should be able to walk down the street without the fear of being harmed. I think the saddest part of this article is that the people were stereotyping each other. They will never know that each other were harmless. They were just two people walking at night, who have every right to be able to walk at night. The thoughts of a white man can be just as bad as any black man. Color doesn't determine character, but thoughts and actions do.
DeleteAshley, I agree with you that stereotyping is a huge problem. I firmly believe that it is one of the reasons that we all cannot interact as a county. We all feel as though our race is the most superior and nothing can change that. I also want to bring up the points about double standards. I agree that we always think about the women who are afraid of the night, but what about the men? We always seem to forget about them and their challenges, regardless of their race. The world is a hot mess and I truly believe that stereotyping is the reason for it.
DeleteIn his piece "Just Walk on By," Ben Staples uses specific rhetorical devices that serve to attract his audience and make his piece more effective. Firstly, the entire piece is composed of a variety of anecdotes which contribute to and support the main crux of Staples's argument. Staples begins his article with an anecdote, most likely to draw in the audience, and to point out the major issues of gender and racial stereotyping. The first anecdote speaks of a young woman who fled from Staples in a dark alley way, clearly fearing that he was pursuing her. In response to this, Staples appeals to pathos to explain the dismay he felt upon recognizing what had taken place. He states, "Her flight made me feel like an accomplice in tyranny." Staples appeals to pathos in order to draw attention to the issue of stereotyping, and to give a personal account of one who has been a victim of its cruel consequences. Staples continues the utilization of various anecdotes so as to support his argument against stereotyping with personal testimonies. Finally, Staples uses an analogy to compare his tactic of humming classical tunes to calm those around him to a hiker who wears a cowbell in "bear country." This analogy really seems to show how inhumane such stereotyping can be, for Staples is simply an innocent man, but feels as though he is susceptible to somewhat of an attack by the bear which is society.
ReplyDeleteIt is evident that stereotyping - particularly racial stereotyping - is quite prevalent in modern society. There are a variety of standpoints that can be taken on this issue, and both have valid reasoning. On one hand, it is clearly wrong to judge an individual based on their race, gender etc.. But on the other hand, history seems to be against these individuals. It is true that more times than not, cases of sexual assault have involved a black man and a white woman. This fact causes many white women to develop a sense of fear when encountering unfamiliar men on their own. Every day there are stories on the news detailing cases of rape involving a white woman and a black man. It would almost be surprising if some sort of fear was not invoked in the minds of women following this understanding. There have been times when I have found myself encountering an unfamiliar man when I was alone, and many times, I have become a bit wary. This is not due to a hatred of men, or even a notion that all men are attempting to harm me, but it is due to a fear instilled in me because of past history. It is natural for someone to fear strangers, for that is something that has been almost instinctive of us since we were children. However, this does not give us the right to judge. As clearly depicted in this writing, not all black men are seeking to harm others. This goes for men in general as well. In conclusion, while it is very wrong to judge another based on their appearance, race, gender, etc., it is only natural for one to take precautions when in an unfamiliar situation.
Mary, it is understandable that most cases in the past are seen with a black male being a cause. At least these are the ones that we are the most aware of. I beleive that white males are just as capable of having a past as black males, but it is not know to us becuase of the publication the news take on these subjects. This plays a big role in the Rodney Reed case. He is a black man while the other man is white, guess which one is on death row and innocent. The black one. Society can't not accept the fact that white males also have the background of terrible happenings.
DeleteAlthough sad, this article is true. Racial profiling is such a problem in our society that needs to be resolved. No matter what their race, a person is a person. It is true that some black men walking the street at night are rapists or thugs. But, not all of them are. Its sad that the author could not walking at night without people profiling him as such. The author was just a black man who had insomnia. In the first part of the essay, he talks about how the women in the street runs away from him on his night walk. Staples calls her his "first victim", even though he has not done a thing to her. He goes on to talk about how this is his inheritance. This is a great use of imagery as well as pathos. You can picture a woman running away scared in park late at night. Its sad, because you know that the women is scared, because she has heard other stories of woman who were minding their own business, and then got raped or assaulted. Then, the author is upset that the woman thinks that of him without evening knowing him. If she knew him, she would know that people he loved died of gang violence and hate crimes, and he would never want to repeat it. He feels the same as the woman does, except she will never know that. This is a great example of pathos.
ReplyDeleteTo try to improve his stereotype, he uses an anecdote. He talks about how he tries to dress nice on the subway, and speak well to everyone, especially to police. He lets people walk in front of them if they seem scared. He will even stop to make sure people don't think that he is following them or profiling them. All of this is done in the daytime as well as the night so people are not afraid of him.
It is true that women have to be careful around men, especially in big cities late at night. I can see why this woman ran away from him. After hearing all those stories on the news, who wouldn't be afraid? The sad thing is that so many people feel like they have to be that way to protect themselves. There is no sure way to tell if that is a man's motive or not, so women always have to been on guard. Would they act the same toward a white man walking on the street at night? Probably not. But could the white man have even worse motives than the black man? Absolutely. In a state of fear, the woman had to make a quick judgement in order to protect herself, she may have been wrong, but she's probably happy to be safe.
I think that sometimes we feel we have to stereotype people to protect ourselves. The sad part of this is, we could be missing out on nice people. If the woman hadn't been so scared of the man, maybe she could have talked to him, or even become friends with him and realize that he isn't so bad. Part of this is due to the way media the projects people of color. It seems like every time you see a colored person on the news, it is because they did something bad. Never do you see the good they do, even though there is a lot of that too. Maybe if people were portrayed based on their actions instead of color, things would get better. This article would be a great thing to feature on the news. Its about someone who is trying to reverse stereotypes and show that their race is just as good as anyone else. This is what people of color should be known for, or any race of that matter.
When Staples opened his article by referring to the women as his "first victim," I was confused. It makes a lot of sense to do that, however, and like you said, it appeals to pathos. After that statement, Staples explains how he must keep the trust that his barely has. As you mentioned, dressing nice and politely pleading not guilty in front of accusing police officers is important. It is easier to pick out a liar if they are screaming and yelling to say that they did not commit the crime. Even though it would be extremely frustrating after a while to be accused of robbery or murder just because you were running down the street, Staples knew how to handle the situation. After a while, he can gain back most of the respect he deserves.
DeleteOlivia, I agree that women do have a right to be scared at night becuase of the bad people that do come out then. However, it is not right at all that many are forced to be afraid becuase there is more bad than good in some respects. The women would have no idea if Staples was man or nice, it wouldn't seem possible to be able to turn around and having a conversation with a men who wanted to kidnap you. Basically it all comes down to stereotyping individuals and not being able to picky the bad from the good.
DeleteThis article reminded me of a story I ran into a television show at the end of February. This show showed the reverence of today from Ben Staples "Just Walk on By." In Staples article, he talked about how many black men are portrayed as doing wrong when eu did nothing at all. This can relate to a black man know as Rodney Reed. I don't believe that many of you know his story, I can tell you a bit of it, but I would recommend looking him up. Mr. Reed was charged with the murder of his girlfriend. This girl friend was cheating on her Fiancée (who is a cop) with Rodney. Basically, the girl was murdered and Rodney was put in jail and was put on death row. This all happens in Texas, so it's all crazy because Texas is different from other states. Anyway, he was scheduled to die on March 5, 2015. I have you know that Rodney is still alive because the day before he was going to die, more evidence came out that Rodney did not kill the girl and the cop did. It is a crazy story on how blacks can be out in a situation where many believe they did the crime because of their color. Of Course I left out a lot of details because I could write a 10 pager on this guy. It's just insane how his color put him looking into the eyes of death.
ReplyDelete"Just Walk on By" made me feel very sympathetic towards black males who do not want to cause harm. It's all related back to how society can alter out minds to look at all black males as predators. I believe I got so sympathetic because of all the anecdotes that were put into the article. These stories not only told of his personal experiences but also of other black males who are put into the same situations as him. He also made the stories stand out by adding the details with using onomatopoeia. The clicking of the locks on car doors when he walked passed for example was one major one. All of these worked together to also be able to use imagery well go picture many of the situations. When he walked into the jewelry store and the girl had the dog, he described the dog in such a way that you could see it and almost hear the talking that was taking place and feel the stares from other people who were in the room at the time. All of these rhetorical devices used made the article very moving.
In the end, I thought it was sad that Ben had to change who he was as a person, how he dressed, how he walked, in order for people not to be afraid of him. There are many black men who are scary out there, but there are also white men who are just as scary as well. We just don't hear about the white men as much as the black because that is just out our society is, messed up.
Madison, I do not think that Staples had to completely change who he was as a person because that is nearly impossible. He did, however, pick up some new habits that looked after the wellbeing of the women. That is very thoughtful and kind of him and not only does it benefit the women, but it also is a self-fulfilling habit. Staples most likely does not want to be feared, and by whistling and acting friendlier, he is more approachable and respected. It makes him feel better. I cannot imagine having people run away from me when they see me. If I was that scary, I would be ashamed. There is nothing that he can do to look different, so acting different must suffice.
DeleteI agree that Ben should not have needed to change who he was as a person in order for people to feel more comfortable around him. He changed how he dressed, how he walked, and other habits so that other people wouldn't feel threatened by him. The new habits he implemented in place of his old ones inevitably became a part of his personality and character, just as every action does. I think this was a drastic overcompensation for people's fears. I do not believe it is okay for the mindless, irrational fears of the majority of a population to influence how someone lives their life, especially when their fears are based solely on appearances. However, given the rate human beings change their minds and rethink their ideas, I think that Ben's actions were the easiest way for him to deal with his stereotype. Without taking the actions he did, his life would have been a series of unfortunate incidents. Due to the way he changed, he was able to live a comfortable, albeit careful, life.
DeleteMaddie, this article, and your story about Rodney, makes me think of a similar story that all of us know too well; "To Kill A Mockingbird". Everyone has read the story, except it really isn't just a story now is it. People everywhere are "killing mockingbirds," and by killing mockingbirds I mean that they are discriminating those of different races. This story is happening all around us. Whether it comes down to someone moving across the street because they are afraid of a man they do not know, or blaming a black man of murder just based off of his skin color.
DeleteI'll probably sound like a broken record Maddison, but I do believe that it was not really necessary for Ben to have to change himself. But maybe a few modifications would be nice. He started dressing differently and whistling as he went on his night walks. I know that if I saw some cool looking guy whistling a catchy song, I'd probably whistle along. I think of it almost like natural selection. Those who can adapt can survive. I'm not very good at adapting to any given situation. But Ben did find a way to adapt and it seemed people ended up being a lot more relaxed around him. Which is a good thing. And wow...your story was pretty crazy. I believe in the death penalty because i do not believe in tax payers keeping criminals alive who should be dead, but stuff like this makes me question whether or not it really is right. If I wear in charge, I would've probably executed this man. But...I don't know if I would've been able to live with myself if I ordered his execution and then it turns out that he wasn't guilty. I respect Texas for a lot of things. But...I just don't know.
DeleteThis article was very...umm...interesting. Ben Staples recounts his experiences of people being fearful of him just because of his gender and skin color. Is this racism? Yes. Do I blame the people who took these measures to make themselves feel safer? No...not really. I've walked down the streets of Pittsburgh many times. There are lots of people who also walk those streets who probably should be in prison. If I see these people walking towards me, I'll pretty much cross the street. I do this no matter skin color these people I do not feel entirely comfortable with are. I feel that most of the time though, these people are African American. Am I racist? Well...I don't really know. I certainly don't try to be racist. I try to look at the person underneath the skin. How often do I succeed? I don't know. I don't keep count. I probably should.
ReplyDeleteSo anyway...cultural digressions don't really help anybody. Ben Staples uses plenty of logos. These examples of logos are then supported with anecdotes and analogies. These particularly stuck out to me in the first couple paragraphs where he talks about all the people who were intimidated by him. The woman running away and the people clicking their cars locked (if they're driving, shouldn't they be locked anyway?) evoked sympathy on my part. I don't give sympathy that often, so this was a very good use of pathos.
I remember reading an article a couple weeks ago. An African American teenager was visiting some friends (who were Caucasian) who lived like across the country. Sorry if I get any of the details wrong, I read this a long time ago. But anyway, he arrived late in the evening. That night, he went downstairs because he could not sleep and he sat on the family's couch and watched tv. The neighbors thought that a robbery was taking place and they called the police. Anyway,mother cops came and they pepper sprayed him and basically refused to believe he was just visiting a friend. I believe they booked him and the family had to come bail him out and explain that he was just staying with a friend. Obviously there was also the Travyon Martin case and the Ferguson case which I don't believe I need yo explain to you. But these are cases that obviously demonstrate racism is alive and well in the United States. Whether people know they are being racist or not, racism is occurring. I'm not just going to let African Americans off the hook though. There are plenty of examples of African American people holding Black people only rallies and they are the first to complain that African Americans have the system rigged against them so they'll never be able to be successful in life and it's just another example of how racist America is. This is obviously not true just look at people like Oprah, Steve Harvey, Denzel Washington, Edward T. Lewis, Neil Degrasse Tyson (Pluto is not a planet you Neil Degrasse Tyson haters), and our very own president. So I think everyone is at fault a little bit. So everybody has to improve their attitudes about race.
Nick, I agree that everyone needs to improve their attitude about race. Changes start small, but eventually grow. If some people change their minds about racism, I'm sure others will too. Instead of looking at the good black people like Oprah, we instead look at the ones that have caused trouble, like ferguson. Ferguson was one place and one person, but it caused many people to spiral out of control. It is those type of people who fuel the stereotypes with their actions. If we all learn to act better, then we can break the cycle.
DeleteNick, I agree that no matter how hard anyone tries, most individuals are at fault of racism, even if it is not on purpose. I know that if I was walking down some alley at night in Pittsburgh with some random man behind me, I would probably be scared out of my mind. I would probably get out pepper spray or something just to be safe. It's not like I am being racist or anything, but there are creeps in this world and I would really rather be safe than sorry.
DeleteNick, I think it is funny how you are mostly afraid of black people on the street, but I usually find myself being scared of the white men. I have white uncles, but I also have two uncles of different ethnicities and a beautiful Hispanic baby cousin. My mixed family makes me more open to other ethnicities even though I was never really racist. I have an Indian uncle, so I have attended indian parties where people wore saris, and let me tell you, they know how to throw parties. One of his Indian neices attends NYU a, and I am going to stay with her there soon since I am considering going there. As a three year old, I had a crush on the African American boy in my dance class, and all throughout my life I have never been phased by skin color. Color does not define love or a person, the only thing that can define a person is there personality. I have a friend, shocker I know, but he is African American with bright blue eyes, which I think is pretty cool. It just shows how the two races can be in harmony and create beauty and something unique. It is also funny to me, because I am more scared of random people in Saint Marys than when I am in New York City. I don't really know why... I am an odd person.
DeleteI really hate how stereotypical someone individuals can be. I know some of these individuals that think that what a person looks like is what defines them. One person in particular is so racist that he "hates" anyone who is not white. He sees a black person walking down the street and he would start talking trash about them as if they had committed some great taboo. Without even knowing the person, he is quick to judge them simply by their appearance.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that this article described how corruptive our society can be. Racism is not born, it is made. For this person to be judge so harshly just by the color of his skin is a shame. What would happen if it was not black that were being discriminated, but what if it was the whites? We would not be able to walk in the street without someone running to the other side just to avoid us, like some did in the article.
There is a very strong Pathos in this article. Ben Staples describes his experiences with racism and his people fear him simply for his gender and his skin color alone. Reading this article made me feel bad for Ben. The whole time I was thinking of how I would have reacted if I was in his position. He went out of his way to make people feel more comfortable, I am not sure if I would be so kind as to do that. He handled everything really well, even when he got the cops called on him so many times for no reason. When his own boss called the cops on him because he was African American really made the Pathos stand out.
I thought that racism was more of a thing of the past, but this is happening now. People are being discriminated all the time, even though it is declared that no one should be discriminated. Racism and discrimination can be found all around; I, like so many other before me, have simply chosen to ignore it. I now see that this is wrong and that racism and discrimination can no longer be tolerated. We are living in a changing world, so why are we still stuck in the ways of the past?
RaeAnn, I agree, I thought that racism was more of an issue in the past. I knew it still was around but not to the extent that I am becoming aware of. It is a shame that people are discriminated because of their color, but it is not only the color that is discriminated against. Many people find it very difficult to get to know a person, therefore they judge the person based on their looks or what they are doing. This judgmental behavior is quite a shame because that person could have been one of the nicest people around. People should not judge books by its cover because those being judged feel as if their book will never be worth reading. This in a way is what occurred with Brent Staples. Staples was judged by his appearance and tried all that he could to avoid frightening these people he passed. It is a shame that people are put down because of these discriminations because it does not allow them to fully be who they are.
DeleteDespite the changes in equality and gender, it has come to my attention that the issues of race and gender are still around today. Stereotypes are pasted onto us the day we enter the world, whether we are male or female, white or black. Jokes and offensive terms are brought out, and sometimes it is for the worst. In the readings this weekend on induction and deduction, there was a gender classification. In the deduction and major and minor premises sections there was a non extreme example of gender remarks. The book stated a major premise of women being bad drivers and then a minor premise of Ellen who is a woman, making Ellen a bad driver. This is a very minor and indirect version of the general topic, but people such as Brent Staples has experienced firsthand the life changing terrors that can occur in such stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteBrent Staples use's a first person writing style to allow the readers to feel what it was like for him. He starts the article with an anecdote about his first victim. This leads the reader to think that he is writing up his victim of rape, but in actuality, this was his first victim in which feared Stapes for his appearance. Stapes enjoys walking at night, but finds that many are afraid when they cross in the streets and many are terrified for they feel as if they are being follow. Pathos is used heavily during this beginning section to draw the readers further into what is going to happen or make them wonder if he has been into crime. This pathos is strongest in the sections where he discusses the hardships on himself. He has walked passed his destination just so people would not think he was following them, he would try to look friendly, and he would try to avoid contact with anyone he passed. Even though these two rhetorical devices are some of the ones primarily used, there are other uses such as anaphora, onomatopoeia, imagery, and allusions. The anaphora and onomatopoeia worked together in the section of his anecdotes where he explains the setting of drivers locking their doors as he walks by. It is quite sad that an innocent man can be pegged as dangerous just by their appearance.
People come in different shapes, sizes, color, gender, etc..., but who is to judge personality based on appearance or setting. Our society sometimes has a habit of accusing those who are different, those who may stand out, or those who come from different backgrounds. Yes, some people come across as scary and harmful, and some come off sweet and innocent. Many people judge before they get to know a person. This is what causes issues such as Brent Staples to occur. A man who appears harmful, but is just doing what he enjoys by walking in the streets. No one knows his story, yet they are so quick to assume. Sometimes those who smile the brightest are those who hurt the most, and sometimes those with great personalities are pushed away because of their appearances. I believe that the saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover" applies greatly to this topic because you can never assume anything until you get to know the person's story.
Sydney, I guess the women are bad drivers stereotypes got implanted in me from a very early age when I realized that my mom was just not a very good driver. A little later on, I discovered my grandma is an absolutely atrocious driver. She was even worse then my mother. Then my sister learned to drive...and I just won't go there. She gets such bad road rage, it's ridiculous. I don't know what it is with women and driving in my house, but it seems all of my relatives who are female just suck at driving. Then I learned the stereotype that all women are bad drivers and I instantly connected all the puzzle pieces. That was a bad move on my part. But stereotypes can be changed. I now know that my aunts are all very good drivers. My cousins are also good drivers. Point is though, stereotypes can be changed. America can certainly change its stereotype on black males. And I agree with you. You can't judge a book by its cover. Sometimes the scariest looking people in the world, can be the nicest people in the world.
DeleteSydney, your bad driving reference made me laugh to myself. I am not the best driver at all and sometimes I believe that stereotype. Women tend to have a lot more emotions and I know that a lot of my friends freak out over everything. With this, women, especially younger women have a hard time paying attention. I think this is where this stereotype comes from. I haven't done the best job at proving it wrong either. Growing up, I was with my grandma everyday and she was a terrible driver. Now everytime I am in the car with her or see another senior citizen driving I am extremely nervous.
DeleteSydney, I love how you incorprated the stereotype of women being bad drivers. I find it baffling because I have almost been in two accidents, and both of them would have been caused by men. One who failed to follow a yield sign on the diamond when I was going straight up, and almost t-boned my side of the car. I had to swerve to avoid him, and the other was right after SATS. When I was driving my twin home, we were going down the highway AT THE SPEED LIMIT and some car just pulled straight across out of Auto Zone. I heard Joel scream at me first, then I saw he car, which I had to slam on the breaks for. So, I was pretty mad he pulled out wrecklessly, but I was also upset I could have died, and my last few hours would have been spent filling in bubbles. I am almost certain I am going to stereotype men driving vans for the rest of my life now.
DeleteThis week, I went to New York City. There you see all kinds of people of all different backgrounds. However, even at night time and walking on the streets, I never once felt unsafe or in danger. I know many people that would have felt very unsafe. I had conversations with several people I saw in stores or in the theaters, and I even found myself laughing with a doorman who was of color. Maybe I am more trusting of people, but I did not look at anyone I saw there of a different racial background and think that they could have been a rapist or a murderer. I think the world we live in today sets characteristics for each type of person. For example, society sets the standard of the common black man to be: rapist, murderer, thug, low-life, uneducated, and poor. However, these characteristics may only fit a few men of color and even so, they apply to people of all ethnicities. There are injustices made against every group of people today. Men are considered scary, women are considered weak, and people of different skin colors are deemed unfit for society. I'm not saying these things are true, but that is how they are brought across today.
ReplyDeleteThis article made me feel really bad for the guy. He wasn't doing anything wrong and all these situations got pushed on him. Just because he was black, everyone assumed that he did all these horrible things. We have all seen the news lately and the things going on in our society today relating to this issue. The author of this story did a great job in effectively presenting his points in a way that made his audience realize the unjust acts happening in regard to this man. Pathos is used throughout just to add emotion to the issue at hand. Pathos is crucial when trying to make a statement about a certain topic. Also, the author did a great job of making the article relatable because this topic is so relevant to our society today. There are many instances that could be paralleled to this article.
I wish that our society did not have to be based around fear. People fear things that are new to them and aren't like what they are used to. Look at our town, for example. It's not like we are teeming with diversity by any means. Therefore, a lot of people in this town are not tolerant of people from other backgrounds. Racism runs wild in our town because people are afraid. However, they don't realize that people of different ethnicities and backgrounds are not all bad. We need to learn as a society to be tolerant and accepting of everyone because a few select individuals does not determine the behavior of a whole group of people.
Abbey, I love your constant open-mindedness. You are not afraid to explore new places and talk to new people and that will help you so much as you grow older and have to venture out of elk county. I feel as though most of us are as scared and stereotypical (even if we do not want to admit it) due to the fact we have never experienced anything or meant anyone of a different race or background. That is one of the main reason that I do not plan on coming home from college, I have no desire to return to a place as close minded as here.
DeleteRacial and gender profiling has become highly prevalent in today's society and is not only highly injurious, it is often times just one's imagination running wild instead of valid claims. I will not lie, I am guilty of this stigma of these preconceived notions of danger when looking at people. Since I am about the size of the toddler, I make sure when I'm driving late at night to be overly careful with myself. Whenever I see any man, I make sure to avoid any contact, and if anyone is waiting in the car next to mine, I go in whichever door is on the opposite side of them. Perhaps I take it too far, but I have seen too many gruesome stories to be deceived that bad things can't happen to me in small town, USA. I must say, I think much of this stems from the media coverage of brutal stories. The story scaring me most right now was the brutal gang rape currently captivating those in India and inspiring them to change the culture of India where rape has become very frequent. The late Jyoti Singh is the center of this movement, which spurred from her brutal gang rape on a privately owned bus being used by a few young men. After they took their turns, one man reached inside her, pulled out her intestines, then she was thrown out onto the side of the road. She then suffered agonizing pain for days until she died from her injuries.
ReplyDeleteRacial tensions have been growing quite rapidly in the past few years. With the murders of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, the country has become divided on racial issues. I cannot form an opinion on what I feel, because there are so many different stories that without being there, I do not feel right drawing conclusions, but I can point out the obvious outcomes from these incidents. Racial tensions have escalated as everyone runs to defend one side. Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin have been portrayed as thugs who were asking for death instead of human beings worthy of respect and life. Perhaps these incidents would not be the colossal issues they have been made if more sympathy was shown towards the incidents instead of stereotyping African Americans into being thugs. I feel as if another source of the racial tensions stem from the prejudices against interracial relationships. For example, the Duggar family asked for support from fans by uploading photos of them kissing, but they deleted all couples of interracial couples. It gives off the impression that races are not equal human beings and the color of the skin matters more than the color of their soul.
Staples uses many rhetorical devices to help make his point. His use of onomatopoeia encourages the reader to imagine the situations further and his use of imagery gives reader the ability to paint a mental picture of the situations he found himself in. He also uses hyperbole by saying the lady in the jewelry store's eyes were bulging out of her head. The use of hyperbole emphasizes the immensity of the situation and the sheer terror Staples is faced with everyday by strangers.
In the end, race is such a minimal aspect of someone. There are terrible people in every race, and there are also wonderful people who are productive members of society in every race. There are black rappers who rap about drugs like Lil Wayne and Bobby Shmurda, but there are also white rappers who do the same like Eminem and Mac Miller. The point is, both races have the attributes so no race can have a finger pointed at them. The Bible does not preach hatred different races, but it does preach against hatred. It is important to protect yourself, but not completely distrust all of humanity.
This article has truly opened my eyes to prejudice that exists in this world. I am huge on feminism and believing that every person on this planet deserves equal rights and, more importantly, equal respect. We see these incidents of unfair treatment every single day, but rarely stop to think about the double standards that come with these problems.
ReplyDeleteStaples starts off his essay in a very explicit, and attention grabbing, way. "My first victim was a woman—" when I read that I was honestly worried about what I was about to read and my mind started racing with thoughts that maybe he was in prison writing this. Considering my excessive viewing of Law & Order SVU and the paper I just researched and wrote, I think my fear was justifiable. But, as I continued to read, I realized that I am an awful person and fell to the social prejudices that exist. I never felt so awful. How many times do we hear stories about women being afraid to walk outside at night because they are afraid of being assaulted and how we should teach men to not assault and we wouldn't have this problem? You can teach men not to assault girls, but there is no way of telling them to simply be less scary or, in this case, stop being black. It is impossible and honestly dumb.
The main issue is that we base all humans off of stereotypes. Though most people think they can makes jokes about it, I think it is idiotic to make fun of a person's race. I cannot stress the point out enough that NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE TALK LIKE DIS YO MY DAWG, NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE ARE FROM THE GHETTO, NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE ARE DRUG DEALERS, AND IT IS NEVER EVER OKAY TO USE THE N-WORD. The use of the N-word as a slang term puts me over the edge and it isn't something that should be thrown around.
As for my point about not all African-American being uneducated ghetto drug dealers, an example can be found in my role model: Condoleezza Rice. She was born in the Deep South during the civil rights movement, then she grew up to become the Secretary of State, play 3 interments, and speak seven languages. I want to be her so badly.
As we grow older, we need to understand that we should be aware of our surroundings and the potential threats that are out there, but there is no reason for us to live in a world full of judgement and discrimination. I am a hypocrite in these situations, however, and I feel as though that state of close mindedness comes from being born raised in a small town. There is a very tall and large African American man who comes into my place of employment quite often. I can remember the first time I saw him I was afraid to walk around the store and I thought he was going to steal things and I was a little uneasy. He ended up being one of my most favorite customers and he always calls me "Darling" which makes my day. I was so wrong to judge him, much like I was wrong to judge Mr. Staples. I am such a critic of double-standards, and I believe it is wrong to claim to be a feminist when I did not search for equality for everyone. I overlooked the double standard in this situation, but my eyes have been clearly opened and rather than feeling bad I need to change the problem.