Patriarchal standards and toxic masculinity go together with systemic racism and target black men. It is no secret that patriarchy is a prevalent social structure in most of the world’s societies. It is generally beneficial for men but, as it is shown in Staples’ essay “Just Walk On By,” men can only experience the disadvantages of it. The racism that black men face and toxic masculinity that is projected onto them are very closely tied and to eliminate the former, society should battle the latter.
The essay talks about the everyday acts of racism the author experiences doing what every person should be able to do without facing any restrictions, such as walking down the street or going to work. The text has a bittersweet ending, as Staples explains the effort he makes to look less threatening in the eyes of the people around him. This solution may work for him, but systemic racism is fueled by several social issues that need to be addressed along with it. One of them is the toxic standards society has for men.
There is a big difference in how black and white men socialize, or at least there was in the times the essay was published. While white men adopted the social roles and the expectations society has for them naturally, by learning from their experiences, for black men it was a counteraction. To be precise, a counteraction to the unwelcoming world which is set against them. Staples explains the roots of the problem that causes black men to present themselves as tough guys and later be seen as such by the general public. Relatives and friends usually expect boys to be strong and endure the difficulties they face. However, this practice, which in its essence makes men more stoic and resistant to troubles they face later in life, backfires when it concerns black men. Being an oppressed class, black boys mask themselves as “thugs” to fight the pressure of society. Going too far in their aspiration to overcome societal boundaries, they become the targets of police violence. Taking manhood too seriously in opposition to the culture that makes black people vulnerable, black men are being perceived as “too tough.”
To see which role race plays in the perception of a black man, it is necessary to make a comparison. Staples says that he discovered his ability to negatively influence public spaces and make people uneasy with his presence. A white man has this power as well but to a different extent. For example, the case the author provides about the woman being afraid of him following her can be a universal experience. A white man following a woman for some time in a quiet street can also send the said woman mixed signals. However, when it is a busy street and daytime, the innocent white men do not experience any sort of distrust from the people around them. This is not the case for black men who can be racially profiled and still be treated disrespectfully, as the author shows by providing an example of a woman bringing out a Doberman for a formal conversation with him.
In conclusion, the racism that black men face, as it is shown in Staples’ essay, puts them in a vicious circle that cannot be escaped until society also questions the authority of patriarchy and presuppositions about the way men shall behave. The parts of male socialization that should make men more powerful in the eyes of society, make black men the targets of violence and the subjects of social alienation.
Work Cited
Staples, Brent. “Just Walk On By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space.” Literary Cavalcade, vol. 50, no. 5, 1998, pp. 38–42.