criticism on Brent Staples

Brent Staples wrote autobiographical essay Just Walk on by on African-American experience. The title tells the audience that author contemplates about his ability to change the public's perception of black males. The first paragraph sets the tone of the essay. The words "my first victim" are drawing the attention of the reader. It introduces the problem of the black males in the United states. Staples demostrates numerous examples of his encounters with other people. He makes us realize that the treatment he recieves from people is not only unfair, but also could be dangerous. "Where fear and weapons meet ... there is always the possibility of death." The last paragraph tells us how the author decides to deal with the issue. He makes certain precautions, starts to whistle classic melodies as if he was "a hiker, wearing the cowbell in bear country."

The purpose of this essays is to inform the reader about the negative effects of being percieved as a criminal and to persuade in some way the public to alter their views of black males.