What is the narrator’s problem? How does the narrator use imagery to convey ideas? What is the tone of the passage? Answer in paragraphs.

Question

The text is "Black Men and Public Spaces" By: Brent Staples.

Answer 1

Hi Kimani, I'll help you get started on those paragraphs!

What is the narrator's problem? The narrator's problem is how he people immediately assume he is a threat. To flesh this out into a paragraph, think about why exactly people might look at this man and see someone dangerous. What does it say about them and their beliefs, both conscious and unconscious? What factors might have caused those people to be afraid of this man? Is it something they were raised to think by their parents, or in school? Or did they learn this fear from movies, TV, and the news? Is it fair that this man is immediately profiled as a threat, despite not doing anything threatening? What are the potential dangers for the narrator; how could other people's tendency to see him as threatening end up creating problems for the narrator himself? Think of yourself in the shoes of the narrator in the situations he describes, like walking down the street at night or going into the jewelry shop. How would it make you feel?

How does the narrator use imagery to convey ideas? Find the sentences where the narrator uses words that describe the situations he has experienced. Look for words that describe colors, sounds, and feelings, and when you read them, you can imagine the scene in your head. How do these descriptions make you feel more connected to this man and his story? Do they make it easier to understand what he has experienced?

What is the tone of the passage? For this, think about how you feel after reading the passage. Do you feel happy, sad, or angry? Does it make you excited about something, or does it make you feel disappointed? Now that you know how you feel after reading, think about why the author wrote this and what he wanted you to feel when you read it. Why do you think he wanted to write this? Was it to make people laugh? Was it to tell a fun and upbeat story? Was it to share his perspective? Was it to make you aware of someone else's reality? Tone could be described as the vibes of the passage (haha), and are usually described in relation to the emotions and feelings behind the passage.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions :)

Answer 2

Hi Kimani D.! I assume that this is your assignment and not your random question, right? So are you wondering about how to interpret tone or imagery or? I also believe you might be having trouble figuring out what problem the narrator has in the text, but I am not sure. Let me know what exactly you are struggling with, and I will try to help you!