Just Walk on By: Black Men in American Society

The Illusion of the American Dream

The American dream has been portrayed as something that can be accomplished by anyone in order to gain success in America regardless of race, skin tone, and cultural background, as long as they have the ambition to acquire that success. However, what is not often made public is the reality of the inequalities that occur for those with a different gender, race, religion, ethnicity, or social class. Black men, in particular, have been a significant target of inequality throughout American history, making it harder for them to achieve personal success and live out the American dream. The main reason they have a harder time accomplishing their goals is the lack of equal opportunities.

The Impact of Racial Stereotypes

Due to the negative image that society has imposed on black men, those who hold power are less likely to offer them the same opportunities they would extend to a Caucasian man. In "Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space," Brent Staples (1986) describes an incident when he worked as a journalist in Chicago. While rushing to the office of a magazine with a deadline story in hand, he was mistaken for a burglar. The office manager called security and harassed him all the way to his editor’s door. Staples states, “I had no way of proving who I was. I could only move briskly toward the company of someone who knew me.” This incident exemplifies the challenges many black men face in America and how the prejudices of others can severely affect their opportunities. Despite being a journalist delivering his article, the office manager's behavior demonstrated how societal perceptions can minimize their worth, making it harder for them to achieve success.

The Consequences of Racial Profiling

The sense of powerlessness limits black men's ability to seek positions of power or speak out on topics they feel strongly about without fearing punishment. This issue is a significant consequence of racial profiling in society. Racial profiling has created mistrust in law enforcement, hostile environments for black men, and social tension within communities. Black men regularly experience uncomfortable and unfair situations due to their skin color. Another example from Staples (1986) illustrates this: he recounts walking at night when a woman assumed he was following her, likely seeing him as a criminal. He reflects, “It was in the echo of that terrified woman’s footfalls that I first began to know the unwieldy inheritance I’d come into - the ability to alter public space in ugly ways.” Black men are often unfairly associated with negative stereotypes, living in a world where they are automatically perceived as criminals, without the opportunity to prove otherwise.

The Role of Media and Community Tensions

Racial profiling of black men from an early age causes divisions and erodes trust among community members. Our communities play a crucial role in our ability to succeed in life. Tensions within communities escalate rapidly with each unjust act against black men, fostering a sense of injustice among people. As a result, black men, often targeted, may internalize negative stereotypes, viewing themselves as inferior. Furthermore, the media frequently portrays black men as perpetrators of violence, focusing on individual acts of violence to divert attention from the fact that many more black men are victims of violence. This distorted portrayal exacerbates the challenges black men face, perpetuating a cycle of discrimination and inequality.

References

• Staples, B. (1986). Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space. In Ms. Magazine.