"The Contender" Argument Essay

Should the Book “The Contender” be banned?

              The Contender by Robert Lipsyte is a young African-American teenager named Alfred Brooks who is living in Harlem, New York with his aunt in the 1960’s. In the book Alfred is a nobody and is pushed around by his friends who take him for a wimp. But one day after stumbling upon a gym he is inspired to become a “somebody” by becoming a boxer.  So with his self-encouragement and determination Alfred trains for weeks and manages to play a few matches at Madison Square Garden.                                                                                                                    

              A particularly compelling example of this is that the book states on page 27-28 “A faint light leaked through a crack, and he hurled himself up at it, paused, took another breath and plunged into a large, murky room. “Yeah?” A short, stocky man with a crew cut white hair looked up. His pale face was smooth and hard. “I…I’m…I’m… Alfred Brooks,” he said, gasping, “I come... to be... a fighter.” This illustrates that even though Alfred is nervous to become a boxer maybe thinking he might drop out of it just like he did when he dropped out of high school but he stick towards it and trains for weeks.                                                                                     

              Also, the book states on page 65 “Alfred tried it, coming up slowly, inch by inch, fighting to keep his legs straight and his heels on the mat as his shoulders began to quiver and the muscles in his stomach tightened painfully. Up and then over, toward his knees, feeling the long muscles tear, until the blood flooded his head and he couldn’t go any further. Then slowly, gently, he lowered the back of his head to the mat. He took a deep breath, and the pain faded away.” This portrays, that Alfred went through a lot of pain just to train for a fight that he might not compete and that he was really dedicated to becoming a fighter he would risk the pain.                   

              During the 1960’s a lot of racist slurs were used during the time to everyone around Alfred, which led to why this book should be banned. For example, on page 4 the book states “Jews squeeze the eagle till it screams,” said Hollis. “The eagle screams, ’Faster, Alfred, sweep that floor, you skinny n*****.” Also the book states on page 5 “You just a slave,” sneered Major, “You was born a slave, you gonna die a slave.” This is just some of the reasons I believe this book should be banned because it contains strong racial hate between characters and of its mature language. I also believe this book should be banned because I believe if there is anger between 2 or more characters cursing out each other is a coping mechanism for releasing anger on each other.                                  

              In this book Alfred goes through a lot of racism and drug and alcohol use but that doesn’t stop him from becoming a fighter so he overcomes it but yet the book shows Alfred participating in underage drinking and giving money to his friend to buy drugs. So what is the best choice? To follow your own path and become who you want to be, or let other people drag you down and make take the bad choices?