Black Man in Contemporary Society was a class the discussion we had with Professor Stevens. At the beginning of the lecture he points out, the word Consciousness, meaning awareness, becoming aware of the system and place of your society. The Professor stated in our discussion the word “System” should be replaced by ‘Society” under Black Man in Contemporary Society. Civil right movements a historical topic that was covered in class. The relevancy was to know the history of the leaders who embarked on this movement (Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and the others). The Professor always said that when a person knows history, that person will definitely share the information as compared to those who do not know. Therefore, for a person …show more content…
An example he brought up was “Donald Trump –hates –minorities”. Using thorough and robust method you should know who Donald Trump I, the meaning of hates and minorities. Also the professor encourages us to go as far as questioning the origin of things we have heard to obtain different point of views on historical events. During our studies I came across a philosopher and a sophist the definition of a sophist is a person who argues to the argument and philosopher is the person who argues to arrive at the truth. In the Professor’s statement he persuades us to have thinking mind as a philosopher because it will enable us to obtain a clear and concise truth to the research. In our studies also learned about Moral v’s Ethics, which implies a person’s Value v’s Principles. The Professor as the class the difference between value and principle. In my opinion values are sets of belief about good, bad, right and wrong about many other aspects of living and interacting in the society with others. Principle, on the other hand is rules or laws that are universal in nature. The professor said having this …show more content…
During the class discussion, the professor describes Kalief Browder issue as “the way black bodies are handled. He said the majority of black men is wrongfully convicted under the justice system and most of them are financially incapable of buying their freedom or away from the court. In another video a wealthy parent was capable of buying his son out of the court because she could afford the rehabilitation facility suggest by the judge. In Professor Stevens’s discussion, he expresses the concern that slavery still exists even though years ago because there are instances where the white people are addressed as superior and a savior to the black
There are many open wounds in the African-American community that have not healed what so ever. Disintegration of family structures in the African-American community has been a persistent problem for far too long. High out of wedlock birth rates, absent fathers, and the lack of a family support network for many young African-Americans have led to serious problems in America's urban areas. The persistence of serious social problems in inner-city areas has led to a tragic perpetuation of racial prejudice as well. African Americans still face a litany of problems in the 21st century today.
Though Brent Staples writes “Black Men in Public Space” in essay form, and Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” is a short story, both authors explore similar ideas about race, the power of racial stereotypes, and the harmful effect of them. Staples use of irony, and Morrison’s symbolic use of metaphor shows that every situation has multiple perspectives and to not look outside of one individual experience can often induce one to accept stereotypes as full truths. As Staples discusses the stereotypes attached to black males, he writes about “the alienation that comes of being ever the suspect”(2). The word suspect literally means a person thought to be guilty of a crime or offense, but here it is used in an ironic perspective. Staples really wasn’t
The strong insistence by these two writer that media just look on and examine people’s looks without considering their dignities, helps readers visualize how similarly Staples and Cofer view society. For both authors, a myth of the media stating that stereotypes are developing and persisting. In “Black Men and Public Space”, Ben Staples describes how he looks like when he is enough to frighten a young white women on the street late at night. He is a man with “six feet two inches height, and a beard and billowing hair”. Black men wearing a bulky jacket, to the public, are all fatal and threatening.
A great essential question is: “Was the civil rights movement successful?” (Bower et al, 2010) First, the students will need to know about the civil rights movements. What was the cause? Who were the crucial leaders?
New York, New York - Who ever said; "When Opportunity knocks, open the door?" Whomever uttered that statement should be shot and gagged. That's the problem we face in this egotistical society! Opportunity is a fundamental gift that reserves itself for those who take and embrace a situation by exherating effort to make it happen. Charlamagne Tha God, the co-host of Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club explains in his new book Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It, how embracing one's truths is the fundamental key to success and happiness.
Black Men and Public Space Brent Staples has had several experiences that have made him come to a conclusion that the black male body inspires fear in public spaces. In my opinion he is right to feel that way. Unfortunately, it is something that comes naturally to some people. This is due to the media exposure with black males, the lack of diversity in their upbringing and demographics.
That point is conceded already. Nobody doubts it." He points out that the laws governing slaves are, by their very nature, proof that a slave is a man and therefore slavery is wrong. He pushes his audience to accept that slavery is inhumane and fight against it by proving that the white men in his audience are no different than the
“Black Men and Public Spaces” Diagnostic Essay Brent Staples in “Black Men and Public Spaces,” illustrates the inescapable prejudices and stereotyping that African-American men face in America. He does this by relating to his audience through his personal experiences with stereotyping, and sharing his malcontent on how these events have made him alter his way of living. From “victimizing” woman, watching people lock themselves away, and having to whistle classical music to calm the nerves of people around him; Staples builds a picture to help people better sympathize and understand his frustration. Although Staples describes himself as a college graduate, a journalist, and a softy in the face of violence, he details that the overall public deems him a dangerous criminal.
Americans Stereotypes: Loosening stereotypes Americans are always scared when they see a black man and think about them trying to harm them. Actually, that isn’t always the case and isn’t the case a lot of the time. Brent Staples in his writing Black Men in Public Spaces shows some of the societies stereotype issues. Americans should stop stereotyping blacks, not purposely go around them at night, and he shouldn’t have to whistle to make people comfortable around him. Americans put stereotypes on different ethnicities.
“Integration and Desegregation”, written by Ralph Wiley addresses issues with integration and how helpful it could be to desegregate areas in the community to benefit all of the citizens and not just one group. ”Affirmative Action”, written by Shelby Steele addresses the issue of people using a tool that is meant to help as a reason to be lazy. Both of the authors in the passages use extreme negatives and positive examples to get their points across to their audience, resulting in the reader having to think about what the author is really saying. Ralph Wiley addresses the issue of integration first, immediately drawing the reader’s attention to the issue at hand. Wiley begins with a question and then proceeds to provide an answer which makes
In his essay entitled Black Men and Public Space (1987), Brent Staples talks about how people will have a common misconception on the black community by thinking that they are all mugger ,rapist or thugs. Staples supports his claim by telling the reader events/ stories that occured to him and talks about how people will assume that he is a danger to society when in reality he isnt. The authors purpose is to inform the reader that his experiences of being stereotyped is to show the reader his point of view when it comes to these types of situations. Staples writes in a formal tone for an intelligent or free minded person.
In his essay “Black Men and Public Spaces,” Brent Staples explains that people often find him intimidating because he is tall and black. Staples shares his account of a number of personal encounters, arguing that in each situation, he was misinterpreted as being dangerous because of his daunting physical appearance. Staples asserts that as a result of this misinterpretation, he was continually mistreated. Staples begins his article by describing the events leading up to his life-changing realization that he has inherited “the ability to alter public space in ugly ways (183).” When he was twenty-two years old, Staples found himself one evening, walking behind a well-dressed white woman on a deserted street in a rather wealthy neighborhood.
Frederick Douglass’s “What the Black Man Wants” captures the need for change in post Civil War America. The document presses the importance for change, with the mindset of the black man being, ‘if not now then never’. Parallel to this document is the letter of Jourdon Anderson, writing to his old master. Similar to Douglas, Mr. Anderson speaks of the same change and establishes his worth as freed man to his previous slave owner. These writings both teach and remind us about the evils of slavery and the continued need for equality, change, and reform.
The Black Man’s Burden In the late-nineteen century, the term new imperialism became an element of politics implemented by many European powers to impose their supremacy around the globe. Between 1870 and 1914, as a result of the Great Depression (1873-1879), imperialistic powers such as Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium, constructed colonies and protectorates in Asia and Africa in order to exploit their resources and their labor . After the decline of the transatlantic slave trade by the late 1860s, a change occurred around 1880 when France and Britain led European nations in the “scramble of Africa,” which divided the continent from 1880 to 1914. Indeed, after king Leopold II of Belgium conquered most of the Congo River with the excuse of promoting
African American Studies was a great experience. Has opened my eyes to my surrounding and the world around me. This course with Dr. Sheba Lo, was something out of me confront zone. I learned so many things from race to cultural to the importance aspect of African American. We are isolated to an environment that hide so much history that we all don’t think they are important to who we have become.