Annie's Article

Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space

Stereotype just occurs unreasonably whenever we see certain groups of people. It comes up and functions as a warning signal that foretells us what or how this person is and put the object into classified categories before we get to know them, which is unfair and sometimes even insulting.

As a black man, Staples has been mistaken for criminal or burglar for several times by people who don’t know him, the only reason that can explain this misunderstanding is probably because of his color, which he was born with and the fate he can not change. Staples became thoroughly familiar with the language of “fear” from the pedestrians who walk on the same streets with him at night; people are so scared and worried of walking along with a black guy and assume that he would do something harmful; such as mug or rap, things that have the possibility of endangering their safety, so that pedestrians automatically keep a proper distance to isolate black guy from themselves. Innocent as Staples he is, he didn’t do anything wrong or offensive to anyone, results in earning a reflection on his self-esteem. This senseless stereotyped treatment really hurts and made him feel upset and unrespected; especially to who is traditionally considered minority in racial status.

Fortunately, Staples deals this kind of insulting and embarrassing situation with very high intelligence. He tried to alter the stereotype that people dominate on him by acting a total reverse way; he appears extremely nice, friendly and well-educated in order to reduce the threatening intimidation people suspect of him. We have learned from Staples that it’s never reliable enough to judge a book by its cover; meanwhile, we should not judge and presume someone only because of the unproved stereotype and denigrate one’s self-esteem since everyone was born equally.