In an essay written in 1986, by Brent Staples, he explores a facet of the dilemma Black men face walking while Black. He expressed the idea that no matter how a Black man is dress, what his educational background is, regardless of what measures he may take, how far away from some people he stayed or whether he was coming from Chicago University or going toward the university, he was still a threat. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall, had a beard and "billowing hair" and a "bulky military jacket", he was still a threat. He could still be the mugger, or the rapist or worse. The writer expressed various methods he used to defuse the tension on the street as he passed women and others who might be frightened by his size, his hair and his color. He said that he learnd to smother the rage he felt at being taken for a criminal. If he had not done that he could have become a mad man.
He started dressing in business attire, tried to appear as non threatening as possible, gave a wide berth to nervous people, not enter the buildings behind skittish people, and was calm and congenial when pulled over by the police. He even took to whistling melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi while taking his nightly constitutional.
This was the road he took when he was 22. This essay was written sometime later. I imagine many ask how long. Sharpton said "enough is enough". Is it getting better or getting worse? Staples had the benefit of knowing the score because what happened to him was "Way back Then." What about Trayvon who grew up in a society that made him think that things were better? This is an ironic contrast between appearence and reality.
This essay is worth reading especially in light of the tragedy that befell an innocent 17 year old child. AND to think that people like Geraldo Rivera could fix his mouth to say that it could have been an accident is ludicrous. Who does he think he is? Just think, I use to like him. Maybe I need to rethink. I might have to put him in my bucket of forgotten idots.
Posted By: Thomasena Martin-Johnson
Friday, March 23rd 2012 at 11:23PM
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