The setting: The mid1960s in New York City.

1
The setting The mid-1960s in New York City.
2
In the black neighborhood where 17-year-old
Alfred lived, times were tough.
3
Alfreds parents had died, so he lived with his
aunt and little cousins. He had dropped out of
school to work in a small store.
4
His friends made fun of him. They said he might
as well be a slave working in the Jewish mans
store.
5
Alfred didnt know what to do with his life.
Should he keep working in the store? Should he
hang out more with his friends, who were starting
to drink, use drugs, steal cars and rob stores?
Should he go back to school? Should he join up
with the civil rights activists who were trying
to make the world a better place for people of
his race?
6
One day he stumbled across a boxing gym, and was
drawn to it. He had visions of becoming a
champion boxer like Joe Louis and Sugar Ray
Robinson. He began to train.
7
The training was tough. Really tough. He didnt
know if he could do it. He wanted so badly to be
a boxer, but could he resist all of the bad
influences in his neighborhood? Or would he end
up like all of the other junkies on the street?
8
You will find out what happens to Alfred when you
read The Contender by Robert Lipsyte in your
English class. If this books sounds interesting,
try these searches in Safari Book Catalog Author
search for Lipsyte, Robert or Myers, Walter
Dean Keyword search for boxing or civil rights
movement
Go ahead and look around for a book or magazine.
You may close out of this.