Page 109 - The Language of Composition 4e Teacher Edition Sample.indd

Another time I was on assignment for a episodes are not uncommon. Black men trade 4
local paper and killing time before an inter- tales like this all the time.
TION
DIFFERENTIA
view. I entered a jewelry store on the city’s In “My Negro Problem — And Ours,” DIFFERENTIATION chapter 4
affluent Near North Side. The proprietor Podhoretz writes that the hatred he feels for
Connections to Self
excused herself and returned with an enor- blacks makes itself known to him through a Connections to Self
eotypes
Students often can r
mous red Doberman pinscher straining at the variety of avenues — one being his discomfort Students often can relate to stereotypes
elate to ster
ascribed to teenagers and may have
end of a leash. She stood, the dog extended with that “special brand of paranoid touchiness” Other Voices / Brent Staples ascribed to teenagers and may have
toward me, silent to my questions, her eyes to which he says blacks are prone. No doubt he experience with being followed in stor es
experience with being followed in stores
eated disr
bulging nearly out of her head. I took a cursory is speaking here of black men. In time, I learned or being treated disrespectfully by police
or being tr
espectfully by police
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs have been used for this sample chapter.
of
look around, nodded, and bade her good night. to smother the rage I felt at so often being taken officers or other authorities. Paragraphs
ficers or other authorities. Paragraphs
10 and 11 pr
ovide an opportunity to ask
Relatively speaking, however, I never fared as for a criminal. Not to do so would surely have 10 and 11 provide an opportunity to ask
badly as another black male journalist. He went led to madness — via that special “paranoid students whether they have ever had such
students whether they have ever had such
to nearby Waukegan, Illinois, a couple of sum- touchiness” that so annoyed Podhoretz at the experiences or have even tried similar
experiences or have even tried similar
tactics as those Staples mentions to avoid
mers ago to work on a story about a murderer time he wrote the essay. tactics as those Staples mentions to avoid
suspicion. Depending on the diversity of
who was born there. Mistaking the reporter for I began to take precautions to make myself suspicion. Depending on the diversity of
your students, you may find that their
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
the killer, police hauled him from his car at less threatening. I move about with care, partic- your students, you may find that their
experiences differ widely.
gunpoint and but for his press credentials ularly late in the evening. I give a wide berth to experiences dif fer widely .
would probably have tried to book him. Such nervous people on subway platforms during the
DIFFERENTIA TION
DIFFERENTIATION
Connections to T
Connections to Text
xt
e
In 2016, the popular TV show
In 2016, the popular TV show black•ish
explored the injustices of systemic racism
explor ed the injustices of systemic racism
and police-involved shootings. Season 2,
and police-involved shootings. Season 2,
episode 16, “Hope” re-created conversa-
episode 16, “Hope” r e-cr eated conversa-
tions Black families ar
tions Black families around the country
ound the country
have had to hold in their homes. The seg-
have had to hold in their homes. The seg-
ment, which occurs between 16:08 and
ment, which occurs between 16:08 and
en
16:50, contains advice given to the childr
16:50, contains advice given to the children
in the family. You might show students this
in the family . Y ou might show students this
elates to the
clip. Then, ask them how it r s essay and this
clip. Then, ask them how it relates to the
esented in Staples’
eality pr
r
reality presented in Staples’s essay and this
Joe Raedle/Getty Images photo.
photo.
Following Officer Darren Wilson’s shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, in
2014, demonstrators protested by marching with their hands up — a physical manifestation of
their chant, “Hands up, don’t shoot.”
How does Staples’s essay address the concept of obvious displays of nonthreatening
behavior?
215
05_sheatlc4e_40925_ch04_170_315.indd 215 12/10/22 2:35 PM

Other Voices / Brent Staples 215

05_sheatlcte4e_46921_ch04_170a_315_2pp.indd 215 1/20/23 7:46 PM