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The document contains an essay with questions about a passage by Staples. It discusses: 1) Staples is referring to stories black men share about experiencing unjustified violence and expectations of criminality. These stories provide perspective and are moving. 2) Staples has forced himself to suppress the rage at being seen as a criminal to avoid confirming stereotypes and possibly acting on feelings in a regrettable way. 3) Beethoven and Vivaldi are classical composers, and whistling their music subverts stereotypes about criminals not being classically educated. 4) Staples' subdued tone makes his description of hardships more powerful by highlighting that this treatment

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61 views

Essay Questions

The document contains an essay with questions about a passage by Staples. It discusses: 1) Staples is referring to stories black men share about experiencing unjustified violence and expectations of criminality. These stories provide perspective and are moving. 2) Staples has forced himself to suppress the rage at being seen as a criminal to avoid confirming stereotypes and possibly acting on feelings in a regrettable way. 3) Beethoven and Vivaldi are classical composers, and whistling their music subverts stereotypes about criminals not being classically educated. 4) Staples' subdued tone makes his description of hardships more powerful by highlighting that this treatment

Uploaded by

ΒασουλαΜηναίδη
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Vasileia Minaidi

19/09/22

WP1212 W1

Essay Questions

4.  In paragraph 10, the author claims that “Black men trade tales like this all the

time.”  

    To what kinds of tales is he referring?  How does including that sentence help him

    accomplish his purpose?

The author is referring to tales and stories of unjustified violence towards men of

color. His coworker being held at gunpoint, him being chased in his own workplace

are all examples of how people expect the worst of them just because they’re black.

These stories help us gain perspective and also are incredibly moving.

5.  Why has he forced himself “to smother the rage [he] felt at so often being taken

for a

    criminal?  (paragraph 11)

Maybe if he did not try to suppress the rage he felt he would come across as exactly

the person people expect him to be. An angry and violent person that is capable of

every crime possible. Also maybe because said rage could eventually cause him to
act upon these feelings in a way he could possibly regret he learned to suppress

them.

6.  Who are Beethoven and Vivaldi?  Why does Staples whistle their music? 

Beethoven and Vivaldi are two of the most well know classical composers. Classical

music and classical education in general is something that you would expect people

of an upper class to have. Being classically educated and also a criminal does not fit

into the stereotypes and what you would expect from a criminal.

4.  Staples’ tone is remarkably subdued.  Discuss the reason(s) behind his adopting

such a tone.  Should he have expressed more emotion?

I believe that his calm tone through out the article is what makes it so powerful. His

calm tone in contrast with the hardships he describes make the reader question if

we really as a society have reached the point where this kind of behaviors are

considered normal and people of color have to learn to leave with just because

people are unable to comprehend that criminality has nothing to do with color and

everything to do with the state of mind.

1.  What does Staples mean in paragraph 2 by “the ability to alter public space?”
Altering public space means the ability to change the way other people perceive that

space just because he is in there. For example before he appeared on the street that

woman walking there probably felt at ease but as soon as she saw him, she suddenly

felt fear and the space she was waking in suddenly felt as the most dangerous place

to be.

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