Staples liked to walk the streets at night due to his insomnia, every stranger that came close enough to realize that he was a tall black man let their fear take control of them as they avoid him, some even got to the point of fleeing. To the eyes of people (mainly women) at night, he was no different from any other thug or criminal who prowled the street. Having moved to New york, and growing accustomed to being perceived as a threat, Staples learned to properly give people their space and to intimidate them less as he walks the streets. Despite being a journalist, he once had security called in on him at a magazine class. No matter what people perceive Staples as, he never let it get to him .He would whistle the pleasant tunes of various classical music to show he means no harm. All these events truly reflect how race and gender struggle to maintain equality. In this essay he takes us through his own personal experiences and actions.
Reviewing the text, several conclusions can be made about Staples emotions regarding the topic of stereotypes. By bringing attention to these supporting testimonies, a feeling of passive irritation is clearly apparent. In the passage, " I grew accustomed to but never comfortable with people who crossed to the other side of the street rather than pass me, " personal reflections are used, as opposed to generalizations, to create an air of uneasiness (Staples 113). The tone used in this essay is very accepting, but contains sarcasm, which gives readers the feeling of an uneasy acceptance. Staples remarks, "I understand, of course, that the danger they perceive is not a hallucination. Women are particularly vulnerable to street violence, and young black males are drastically overrepresented among the perpetrators of that violence " (114). However, knowing there is some truth behind an action makes it easier to accept, and he continues "[this offers] no solace against the kind of alienation that comes of being ever the suspect, against being set apart, a fearsome entity with whom pedestrians avoid making eye contact " (114).