Questions on “black men and public space” by brent staples after reading and marking the text, respond to the following questions on a separate piece of paper or google doc.

1. what does staples mean in paragraph 2 by “the ability to alter public space? ”

2. what does he learn from his encounter with a white woman as recalled in paragraphs 1 and 2?

3. what other anecdotes does staples use to illustrate the problem of “black men and public space? ”

4. what is the essay’s thesis?

5. what “truths” does the author describe in paragraph 5, and how does this paragraph him advance his thesis?

6. in paragraph 10, the author claims that “black men trade tales like this all the time.” to what kinds of tales is he referring? how does including that sentence him accomplish his purpose?

7. why has he forced himself “to smother the rage [he] felt at so often being taken for a criminal? (paragraph 11)

8. who are beethoven and vivaldi? why does staples whistle their music?

9. staples begins with an anecdote. discuss the effectiveness of this story as an introductory device.

10. staples’ tone is remarkably subdued. discuss the reason(s) behind his adopting such a tone. should he have expressed more emotion?

11. if you had been in staples’ situation, how would you have handled it?