“Night Walker” Response Questions

1. Why do you think Staples refers to the woman he encounters in the beginning of his essay as a

“victim”?

     I think that Staples refers to the women he encounters as victims because of the way he made them feel. I think he understood that women feel helpless and scared when walking alone at night, especially when a man, a black man is walking their way. Due to stereotypes, men of color seem to be avoided most, feared most, and the author understands this.

2. What, exactly, is his “unwieldy inheritance” mentioned in the second paragraph?

     The unwieldy inheritance that he mentions refers to the image or stereotype that he is forced to deal with daily. Staples realizes that due to his race, people assume things of him, such as a mugger or rapist, based solely on his appearance. Your race is something that you do not chose, therefore he inherited this burden.

3. What, exactly, is “the language of fear” (paragraph three)?  What examples does Staples give to

illustrate this “language”?

     The language of fear that Staples describes is the actions that people take when they are in situations that they do not feel comfortable, or they are afraid in. Some examples that Staples gives to illustrate the language of fear is when he would cross in front of a stopped car, he would hear the locks being pushed down on the car door, or when he is walking down the street toward a woman she would cross the street.

4. This piece is sometimes printed under the titles “Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His

Power to Alter Public Space” or “Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space”;  how do

these very different titles affect your understanding of Staples’ reason for writing? How would

your perception of his purpose for writing this essay change, if given these different titles?

     I think that the other two titles give the essay a different meaning. The title, “Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space,” makes me think that the author’s message to the reader is one based on personal issues, rather than how the public relates to him. Staples ability to alter public space has less to do with his race than it has to do with stereotypes. The other title doesn’t give a good sense of what the essay is about. Black men and public space could deal with any different kind of issue. The title, “Night Walker,” although vague, suits the essay best.

5. Why do you think whistling selections from Beethoven and Vivaldi seem to make people less

afraid of the author?

     I think that the author whistled selections from Beethoven and Vivaldi to try and relate to people. The assumption of thugs is that they wouldn’t know any classical music, so to hear a man, one you would initially be freighted of, whistling a familiar selection of Beethoven may immediately ease your mind. I think it was a smart tactic on his part.