"Black Men and Public Space," in an essay that Brent Staples wrote about how black males are being stereotyped as a dangerous individual in the society. Brent Staples describes him self as a Black man in society and all the problems that come with it. At first he describes (when he was younger) his, " first victim," which was a white women walking down the street. A young black man was walking behind her and the white women got scared that he was behind her. The women then picks up her pace to almost a run and are gone. The women did not have to worry because he kept a reasonable distance between her and the young black man, and he also had his hands in his pocket. About a decade later the black man learns that his presence has been changing the views on life. Just because he is a different color people assume that he is a, "mugger, rapist, or worse." People always assume to jump to conclusions rather then know whom he is or what is going on in the world. .
Along with the white women when people see him walking down the street they will cross the street to the other side so that they will not be on the same side as a black man. Also at night when people are in their cars and see him walking down the street they will automatically lock their doors. When people see him their first thought is that he will mug them or even possible hurt them. The last encounter is when Brent was working for a journalist in Chicago. One night he was about to hand in a paper and since it was at night the manager accused him of being a burglar. Just because he was black and it was dark outside the manager just assumed that he was going to cause danger to everyone. Brent jokes about it by saying it was a misunderstanding to his skin color. .
Brent Staples' wants to not only tell but also show people in society that black people are not a dangerous figure that will harm everyone that comes into their viewpoint.