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Essay / Just Walk on By: Black Men in American Society
The American dream has been described as something that can be accomplished by anyone in order to succeed in America, regardless of race, skin tone, and background cultural, provided that he has the ambition to acquire this success. What is not made public to the people is the reality of the inequalities that affect people of different genders, races, religions, ethnic origins or social classes. Black men in particular have been a major target of inequality throughout American history, making it more difficult for them to achieve personal success and achieve the American dream. The reason they have a harder time achieving their goals is because they lack opportunities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayDue to the poor image society gives black men, those in positions of power are the least likely to give to a man black the same opportunities as they would. suggests a white man. In "Just walk on by: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space" by Brent Staples, he states that when he was working as a reporter in Chicago, he rushed to the offices of a magazine he was writing for an item with a deadline story in hand and was mistaken for a burglar. The bureau chief called security and hounded him to his editor's door. Staples quotes: “I had no way of proving who I was. I could only move briskly towards the company of someone who knew me.” This is an example of what many black men have to go through in America and how the behavior of those who are prejudiced against them can affect their opportunities. Not only is Brent a journalist, but he was there to deliver an article he wrote for the magazine. This office manager's behavior is proof that how others perceive black men can not only affect their opportunities, but also minimize their value, making it harder for them to succeed. The feeling of powerlessness limits the ability of black men to seek positions of power or speak out on issues they care about without fear of punishment. This problem can be seen as part of the consequences of racial profiling on society. Racial profiling has created distrust of law enforcement, hostile environments for black men, and social tensions within communities. Black men must regularly experience being faced with uncomfortable and unfair situations because of the color of their skin. A good example of this is in “Just walk on by: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space” by Brent Staples. . He mentions a negative experience he had due to racial profiling in which he was walking at night and a woman thought he was following her, probably seeing him as a criminal. Mr. Staples quotes: “It was in the echo of this woman's terrified footsteps that I began to realize the heavy inheritance I had received – the ability to modify public space in ugly ways.” . All black men have to do is simply exist to be associated with the negative stereotype that society has created for them. Lacking the opportunity to prove themselves, they live in a world in which they will automatically be seen as criminals. Keep in mind: This is just a sample.Get a custom paper from our expert writers now.Get a Custom EssayRacial profiling of black men from a young age causes groups of people to turn on each other.