What Gets Taken Without Touch

In “Just Walk On By,” Brent Staples talks about navigating public spaces while being perceived as a threat. Nothing actually happens most of the time, but something is always taken from him. Every look back, every step away takes a little piece of his confidence. These are quiet moments, but they add up.

Staples talks about learning to adapt his behavior to make others feel secure. He changes his walk. He hums vivaldi. He puts distance between himself and others when no distance should be required. None of these are about him. They are about how he is perceived. Each one takes something from him, even if it keeps him physically safe.

The piece shows how fear can quietly break a person even when not a single word is spoken. Staples doesn’t lose his intelligence or his personality. He loses his comfort. He loses his right to move through the world without thinking. These are small things, but they add up over time to change how he lives in the world.

 It’s like writing with a pencil that never gets sharpened out of choice. The tip gets duller and duller as you write, leaving marks behind without even noticing it. You’re still writing. You’re still moving forward. But it gets harder because of what’s already been lost.

 Staples’ piece pushes the reader to recognize how racism works through everyday moments. No yelling is required. No conflict is required. The hurt happens through quiet moments.