Whenever I'm walking home alone the world instantly becomes a place filled with threats in every corner. The slightest breeze or sound makes me shiver and tense up. " In these moments if a person approaches I don't have time to strike up a conversation and so I take what I can get to asses the situation, his/her visual appearance. Its the first thing that is readily available and its statistically accurate in most cases. So I don't blame people for relying on their primeval instincts to judge and if a danger is perceived to flee.
However, appearances can be completely inaccurate since they can be changed (well not in terms of race) and manipulated. They should not be the sole determining factor about a person and in Staples case they are when he is walking down the streets with his hands in his pockets. Since he is a part of a race that is "overrepresented among the perpetrators of that violence" he is categorized for convenience. Staples knows he is being judged for safety and convenience but it still makes him feel the "alienation" that should not exist.
This is a situation that doesn't currently have a solution, but hopefully one will come up later on. Staples does find a temporary solution though in humming classical music he can appear more refined and cultured. Since appearances can work against you having a "cowbell that hikers wear" can assist you into appearing closer to your identity.
Great use of quotes and textual evidence in supporting your claim! It all flowed very well and I agree with the point you made on how appearance can be manipulated. People can change their appearance and make themselves out to be something they're not, kinda like that rabbit with his carrot. There's a lot more to it than looks! Nice post.
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