Alfred Brooks is an African-American young man living in late 1960s Harlem who has dropped out of high school and is facing a bleak future.
On one side, Alfred is being pressured by an emerging civil rights movement to "make something of himself." On the other side is, the temptation to fall into crime and drugs like his best friend James has.
After being beaten by street thugs, Alfred visits a neighborhood gym and decides to become a boxer. Robert Lipsyte does an excellent job of capturing the sights and sounds of late 1960's Harlem and the characters and dialogue are real.
Alfred never becomes a great boxer, but he does learn some valuable lessons about life.
On one side, Alfred is being pressured by an emerging civil rights movement to "make something of himself." On the other side is, the temptation to fall into crime and drugs like his best friend James has.
After being beaten by street thugs, Alfred visits a neighborhood gym and decides to become a boxer. Robert Lipsyte does an excellent job of capturing the sights and sounds of late 1960's Harlem and the characters and dialogue are real.
Alfred never becomes a great boxer, but he does learn some valuable lessons about life.
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