Brent Staples in, "Black Men and Public Space" exposes the fear that his skin color makes others feel in public. However, contrary to what the people intimidated by him believe, he is actually a very well educated man who means no harm. Staples provides many examples of how simply being black has altered the public space around him. Going for walks at night, he often faces the "standard unpleasantries with policemen" (Staples 3) due to his appearance. "Black Men and Public Space" allowed me to view society from a black man's point of view and, after reading this piece, I realized that a crucial factor in how people perceive each other is race.
Being a relatively skinny Indian teenager, I realize that I too have my own effects on public space. First of all, I intimidate pretty much no one (except maybe the swim team). I also sense discrimination on the basis of my skin color at many sporting events. After all, what is a skinny Indian kid versus a large black kid in a sprint? Well, similar to Staples, I rejected the stereotypes that come with my skin color. At an indoor track meet, I was unlucky enough to be the person filling the final spot of our sprint relay, and also receiving the baton in last place. Somehow I passed one team, and then another. I ended up out-finishing another team and the shook hands with the runner I had just beaten. There was a shocked look in his eye as he sized me up. Did this skinny Indian kid actually just beat him? Yes I did.
Only after reading Staples' piece did I realized how race is a major factor in determining public space. In Staples' case it instilled fear into others and in mine public space it was almost non-existent. I hope that in the future, society continues to demolish racial stereotypes so that this misjudgment no longer occurs. Because although winning as an underdog is fun, being perceived as one just because of your race is not.
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