blog




  • Essay / Staples' use of literary devices in Just Walk on by

    Despite the fight against racial discrimination taking a major step forward in the last thirty years, racism still thrives among us in the modern world. Racism has become so deeply ingrained in society that people tend to avoid seeing it as a danger in daily life. Brent Staples' “Just Walk on by: Black Men and Public Space” is a fascinating and eye-opening piece of writing. Brent Staples, in his article “Just walk on by: Black Men and Public Space”, illustrates his experience as a black man in public space, while understanding the unbearable realities of racial discrimination. Therefore, this article will analyze how Staples uses vivid images, changing public space, and personal examples to inform readers of his ordeals. Additionally, the journal will examine and offer a personal position regarding the author's claims regarding racial discrimination. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Staples uses vivid imagery as a way to get his audience to identify with him, allowing them to agree with his point of view. Brent Staples describes the woman he meets in the first paragraph as a victim of his actions. Filled with prejudice, the woman appears nervous and crosses the street, showing that she feels unsafe and sees Staples threatening while he is completely harmless. Vivid imagery plays an important role in Staples' essay. The author uses descriptive terms such as “Both hands shoved into her bulky military jacket” as well as “As I walked toward the room behind her.” In this context, the terms jostling, bulky and swinging create an aggressive image suspected by the public. Another use of description through imagery is evident when he says, "After a few more quick glances, she got her groove back and she was working in earnest." As we continue, we notice Brent Staples starting to talk about his appearance. Staples writes the story from his own experience and observed how white people would close their car doors and run across the street for safety when he appeared. However, he is fully aware that he has the ability to change all of this simply by going through this. Brent Staples gives his personal perspective by making the audience assume he is making a mistake, but ultimately clarifies how his actions were generated by fear born from his prejudices as an abuser, rapist, and criminal. Nevertheless, regardless of the misconceptions above, there is a lot of truth in the author's claims. Ultimately, in a display of fictional ridicule, the self-proclaimed “capacity to change the public space” pushes the author to modify his personal behaviors as well as his thoughts. So when the prejudices exhibited by the white group seem strongly inherent in his nocturnal activities, he seeks a practical alternative. Therefore, in what seems to be the most memorable final part of his article, Staples tells the audience how he discovered how to turn tense situations into friendly, sociable ones. The writer informs readers that even after all of this, he believes it had a positive impact on his personal experience. The author uses personal illustrations throughout the story accompanied by direct quotes obtained from other books he has read and which he associates with the story. Therefore, Staples' personal examples make his story strong and fascinating.