Profiling is Puzzling

In "Black Men and Public Space," Brent Staples uses personal anecdotes to illustrate profiling from a different perspective. While others might say that racial profiling isn't as prevalent today, Staples makes it clear that it is very much thriving. To this end, he casually states "black men trade tales like this all the time" (10) to show how commonplace his experiences are. The fates of innocent black men paint a grim portrait of society; however, there seems to be few alternatives, because "the danger [society] perceive[s] is not a hallucination" (5). Indeed, Staples himself can offer no permanent solution, resorting to whistling classical music (12) as a temporary fix. There is hope, though. If Jimi Hendrix, another black man, can earn the respect and adoration of millions--not to mention other highly successful African Americans--perhaps one day, the stigma associated with being black will wear off. If we are to progress as a society, we must be willing to toss our prejudice into the fire. This applies not only to black men, but also to the other minorities in society: the homeless, like Jeannette Walls's parents, come to mind. When you think about it, placed in context of the vastness of outer space, discrimination is really a petty affair.