Just a walk on by
The Brent Staples essay “Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space: discusses Staples unconscious ability to alter society’s comfort zone in simply being an African American male of his stature. Staples recognized the uncomfortable and skittish behavior of others on many occasions during his life. The perceptions of society, which has been given to us through television, the news, and the majority of reported crimes point to African American males as prime suspects. Brent staples along with the majority of African American males know or have an idea that they are always being watched, thought about, and avoided just based upon race and gender. This ability to manipulate and alter space is a curse, because it forces the perceived suspect to be on edge and the alleged victim into unnatural behavior. Perceptions and unproven theories in life can be easily developed through false verification. People believe stereotypes because society allows them to exist, and from this existence, perceptions of groups and categories are formed.