a brothers murder
Professor Cavallo
A Brother’s Murder
“ A Brothers Murder” by Brent Staples is a narrative essay about the violent death of his younger brother, Blake. Growing up in a angry, poor, industrial city introduced the brothers to the violence and dangers of the streets. The death of his brother didn’t surprise him. The way they were living death could have come from anywhere. Growing up in a violent community led the brothers to take separate paths; as Brent fled the past, Blake embraced it. On Christmas of 1983, Brent traveled to visit his brother Blake in Roanoke, Virginia were Blake had moved to. A town that was much like the town they lived in, desolate public housing projects, the hopeless, young men crashing into each other. Blake described the stories of his trips into crime and his encounters with the police, this made Brent uneasy. The place he felt so comfortable in at one time made him then worry for his brothers next move. As Brent realized his decision to move away from the violence was a smart choice, Blake failed to see his opportunity out. Blake’s romance with the street life flowered dangerously as time progressed. Brent sitting on the side line watching Blake get involved with the completely wrong crowd made him fear for his brothers life. Blake perfected the image of a “ tough guy with dark glasses and swagger.” Brent could only think of the little toddler in diapers he once grew up with and wanted nothing more then to help him get through this. Blake felt as if he was immortal and gunplay had become a part of his everyday life. Brent was unable to simply say that the thousands that lived this way before him had died a violent death. Brent knowing the outcome of all these situations only motivated him more to save his brother. The outcome of this lifestyle although was not uncommon. Brent tried talking his brother into taking some time away. Anywhere to get him away from the violent community he had embraced. Blake had listened to what
A Brother’s Murder
“ A Brothers Murder” by Brent Staples is a narrative essay about the violent death of his younger brother, Blake. Growing up in a angry, poor, industrial city introduced the brothers to the violence and dangers of the streets. The death of his brother didn’t surprise him. The way they were living death could have come from anywhere. Growing up in a violent community led the brothers to take separate paths; as Brent fled the past, Blake embraced it. On Christmas of 1983, Brent traveled to visit his brother Blake in Roanoke, Virginia were Blake had moved to. A town that was much like the town they lived in, desolate public housing projects, the hopeless, young men crashing into each other. Blake described the stories of his trips into crime and his encounters with the police, this made Brent uneasy. The place he felt so comfortable in at one time made him then worry for his brothers next move. As Brent realized his decision to move away from the violence was a smart choice, Blake failed to see his opportunity out. Blake’s romance with the street life flowered dangerously as time progressed. Brent sitting on the side line watching Blake get involved with the completely wrong crowd made him fear for his brothers life. Blake perfected the image of a “ tough guy with dark glasses and swagger.” Brent could only think of the little toddler in diapers he once grew up with and wanted nothing more then to help him get through this. Blake felt as if he was immortal and gunplay had become a part of his everyday life. Brent was unable to simply say that the thousands that lived this way before him had died a violent death. Brent knowing the outcome of all these situations only motivated him more to save his brother. The outcome of this lifestyle although was not uncommon. Brent tried talking his brother into taking some time away. Anywhere to get him away from the violent community he had embraced. Blake had listened to what