Journal #5 - "Response to Staples Essay"

Reading Staples essay, I am not at all surprised by the racial tension he has encountered throughout his life. I read this essay last year in my AP Language & Composition class and I had finished it with the same reaction as this time.
In today’s world, people generally live by common stereotypes, especially when it comes to judging others who are different from him or her. Specifically, people stereotype the African American race as “risky” people to encounter, especially in city areas where crime is more common. When Staples describes how women often cross to the other side of the street when he walks behind them, I felt bad for him because he was being judged as a result of the color of his skin; he wasn’t being judged by the fact that he was soft, devoted college student. Over fall break I went to Loyola College in Maryland to visit my best friend. One night when we were going to a party we ended up in a less safe part of Baltimore where drug –area blue lights lined the streets; I have never felt more unsafe or scared in my entire life. While walking my friend and I kept our purses tucked under our jackets while linking arms as we noticed peculiar men walking behind us; this area that we were in was highly populated with African Americans. So, my friend’s and mines actions prove why I am not surprised by his experiences; however, I have never crossed a street in a regular area when I saw someone of a different race than mine.
Though, my actions over break may seem hypocritical, it saddens me that Staples makes plans of action on how to avoid similar experiences like ones before. Its ironic how others may act so frightened of him, but yet he is just equally as frightened of being misjudged by them. Unfortunately, it’s very likely that stereotypes and racial profiling will remain in the world, but it would be great if everyone wasn’t so quick to judge.

Rhetorical Analysis

For my rhetorical analysis paper I am going to analyze Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" speech at Carnegie Mellon in 2007 before he past away. This lecture is filled with rhetorical strategies as Pausch gives life advise, while still being humurous and personal. Further, i will discuss how his touching lecture is now a best-selling book; a book that many look to for advise on how to enjoy life and be grateful for it.