Brent Staples

Just Walk on By
Bella, Nina, Sarah, Chaz, Taylor
P5

Summary
Staples article discusses the issue regarding racism against black males
including himself. According to Staples, essayists and novelists have written
about being afraid of black males who walk the streets at night (Staples). He
continues to argue that Women are particularly vulnerable to street violence,
and young black males are drastically overrepresented among the
perpetrators of that violence (Staples). The author is suggesting that women
are more likely to be scared of these men due to their reputation of being
thugs. As a result, Staples had lived a tough life when he was in his 20s due
to his experiences with racism.

Claims by the Author

Claim: Black men
have a firm place in
New York mugging
literature (Staples).

Mentions an essay about

the authors nervousness
around black males on the
streets @ night.
Next claim: Women are
particularly vulnerable to street
violence, and young black males
are drastically overrepresented
among the perpetrators of
violence (Staples).

Another essayist/journalist
writes about the quick
hunch poster to avoid
attention from black males.

Talks about how women

hunch over with a neutral
expression on their faces
and walk away quickly.

Rhetorical Triangle
Purpose:
Staples wants everyone to know how he feels when people would judge him by the color of his skin.
Instead of being judge by his personality, he is judge as part of a group.
Message Logos:
He provides many stories of his own that are detailed and reasonable. He is specific on the types of
people and settings in his experiences. Staples organizes his article chronologically.
Audience Pathos:
Staples is addressing mostly to people who makes assumptions about others just from the color of their
skin. He is also addressing to educated people that are in high school or older. Staples could also be
talking to those who have the same problems as him. He is concerned that society is starting to label
innocent people and being unfair to them.

Rhetorical Triangle
Staples enjoys walking late at night, but he feels uncomfortable and hurt when women, even men, would
get nervous or frightened when they see him. He knew that majority of the people he was around were
scared that he will do something bad, so to prevent any problems he would give them plenty of space.
Staples would also take routes that are unpopular and wait for them to walk on by.
Speaker Ethos:
There were some parts in the article where he was a little unfair, because there were two times when he
was walking at night. For the most part though its believable because Brent Staples uses more than one
story to back up his point.
Context:
Brent staples lived in Chicago and he now lives in New York. Two of the most dangerous places to live in.
His past experiences makes sense just because of this.

Criticisms
It is, after all, only manly to embrace the power to frighten and intimidate.
Its not only manly to embrace power to frighten and intimidate people. Many
men embrace the power they have to do good, such as, help others who are
in need.

Methods of Elaboration - Anecdote/Short Story

1) Anecdote: My first victim was a woman--white, well dressed, probably in
her early twenties. I came upon her late one evening on a desert street in
Hyde Park, a relatively affluent neighborhood in an otherwise mean,
impoverished section of Chicago (1).

Personal story/experience helps readers to better understand authors

main point
Allows for more extensive explanation of main point in a way other
than usual stance, quote, explanation format

Methods of Elaboration - 5 senses

2) Offer evidence of 1 of the 5 senses: At dark, shadowy intersections in
Chicago, I could cross in front of a car stopped at a traffic light and elicit the
thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk of the driver--black, white, male, or female-hammering down the door locks (3).

Author allows readers to use their hearing senses with the word thunk
& hammering
Avoided saying something like, ...I could cross in front of a car stopped at
a traffic light and people would lock their doors
Elaborates on what it would be like, sound like

Methods of Elaboration - They Say, I Say

3) They say, I say template: I often witness that hunch posture, from women after dark on the
warrenlike streets of Brooklyn where I live. They seem to set their faces on neutral and, with their
purse, straps strung across their chests bandolier style, they forge ahead as though bracing
themselves against being talked. 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. Yet these truths are 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 (6).

Making a Concession - They have a point, BUT

Template allows writer to further expand on his argument
Validates his ideas by bringing up what both sides say

Methods of Elaboration - Irony & Analogy

4&5) Irony & Analogy: And on late-evening constitutionals along streets less traveled
by, I employ what has proved to be an excellent tension-reducing measure: I whistle
melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi and the more popular classical composers...
Virtually everybody seems to sense that a mugger wouldnt be warbling bright,
sunny selections from Vivaldis Four Seasons. It is my equivalent to the cowbell
that hikers wear when they know they are in bear country (14).

Elaborates on what he means by tension-reducing measure

Uses the irony of a mugger whistling classical music on the streets

Shows that hes denying his own race and conforming to whiteness
Uses analogy about the cowbell and hiker
Hikers wear bells to scare bears off or to let them know theyre there

Author wants to whistle classical music to let people on the streets know hes there,
just like how a hiker uses bells

Discussion Qs

Will racism against black people ever stop?

Do you think the racism problem in America today has gotten worse,
stayed the same, or better than it was in the past? Why?

Why do you think black males are viewed as criminals?