Racism has existed throughout history, feeding on the fear and ignorance of mankind. Since the beginning of time, people have been judged based on the color of their skin or where they come from. Many activists have emerged from these groups to support their communities and help them get better treatment. Among these is the famous writer Brent Staples who, in his essay "Just Walk on By", describes how racism and prejudice are still very present in American society today. Staples chronicles his journey to understanding the effect his presence has on other people. He also shows his frustration that he cannot do anything to mitigate this effect, even though it is a major part of his life. This essay helps to understand the prevalence of racism and prejudice in our society and aims to persuade the audience to sympathize with the writer and the black community in general. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayStaples begins his essay by recounting an encounter he had with a white woman. He describes how that was the first time he discovered his ability to “alter public space in horrific ways.” It was the first time he learned of the discrimination black males faced simply for being in public. Although he agreed that it was understandable for women to be afraid, considering the overrepresentation of black men in violent acts, it disturbed and embarrassed him to know that he was indistinguishable from the muggers and rapists in the area. However, he didn't seem angry about it, proving to be reasonable and impartial and making the audience sympathize with him more. Instead, try to implement ways to appear less intimidating to lessen its effect on the audience. The author continues to narrate examples of times he was unreasonably discriminated against. For example, the times he was mistaken for a thief or his colleague for a murderer. By sharing this account not only of his personal experience but also of one of his colleagues, he shows the audience that his is not an isolated case. At this point the public begins to realize the difficulties that prejudice causes for black males. This makes them feel empathy towards these men, which is a goal of Staples in writing this essay. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay By the end of the essay, Staples provides many examples of the calamities that black men suffer by doing something as simple as walking down the street. He does a great job of making people understand and sympathize with him and black men in general as well. His narrative successfully convinces audiences to recognize that racism and prejudice are still present in society and hopefully prevents them from engaging in them. Everyone should understand what these men go through and know that they do not deserve this unfair treatment.