Blog Assignment #4: Dissecting a Memoir

What’s Inside You Brother?

            I was particularly drawn to Toure’s piece, What’s Inside you Brother, because of his extreme creative and experimental writing style.  Touré incorporates the use of literary doubles to tell his own personal struggle; finding his identity in America as an African American male. The author tells his story through the lens of his doppelganger, Touré the journalist. As he writes from a journalistic point of view, the author gives the reader insight as to why after four years, Touré the boxer, continues to fight in the ring despite his lack of talent.  The piece is truly unique because he uses the 3^rd person narrative to avoid being sentimental. Embodying two different characters to portray his own self, gives the reader a sense of the authors personality.  Throughout the piece, the author reveals to the audience his personal insecurities and his personal fight to work through them.

            Touré story takes place at a boxing gym called Body and Soul. The piece effectively describes all aspects of the ring including the culture that births within it. He explains that when you are in the ring, you can be who ever you want to be, there are no elephants in the room. The banter between Jack (the white dentist) and Touré the boxer is not in a negative light; but rather fuels his drive to fight and is encouraged at the gym. He writes:

“But instead of attacking your poverty, or your mama, its your boxing or your looks.  The one who makes everyone laugh loudest wins. And as with the dozens, sometimes it hurts, but its done by your own, to strengthen you for the onslaught from without, you know that a beatdown is really a buildup and you just keep on” (p.727)”

I found this quote quite significant. It gives the reader one of the many reasons Touré continues to fight in the ring. Boxing strengthens his spirit, his will to face the challenges of the outside world. At the gym, it seems as if he can just be himself. He does not have to worry about living within the social confines of race. It becomes clear that his fascination with boxing connects him to his African American culture. He fantasies about becoming as good of a boxer as Joe Louis, and constantly connects his fights to the famous African American figures who stood up and fought for freedom and rights. Touré writes” That cured the blues in a hurry, hearing the Brown Bomber slaying one or another white boy by fighting so slowly he looked like a sepia-toned stop motion. His body stiff and slow like a cobra, hypnotizing his man, until the precise moment for the perfect punch.” (p.726)

           

The author wins over the audience towards the end of the piece where we see the two characters meet; Touré the journalist and Touré the Boxer. When they begin to speak, the audience sees that Touré the boxer is fighting through the demons of his past. Growing up as a middle class African American boy attending all white schools up until college, he is run with guilt being privileged. His struggle finding his place within the African American community is crucial to his subconscious mind, The Whisper. He writes,  “ I have got to fight, even in the face of sure defeat, because no one can hurt me as badly as I can.” (p.731) This powerful quote shows that the author’s biggest struggle is within himself. The story is successful with readers because of this ending. In this piece Touré explains that everyone has insecurities. We are our own biggest critics. There is always a “Whisper” in the back of our heads questioning our places here on earth. The Whisper he keeps referring to is alive in everyone and I think really connects readers to this piece. When we fight through those insecurities and self-doubts, we become stronger than ever. It isn’t about winning the fight, but trying your best to be as present and as alive as you can be. Boxing to Touré is a metaphor for these personal demons, something anyone can relate to.