Brent Staple, author of “A Brother’s Murder” is a concerned brother who’s success had brought distance between him and his loved ones. Staple moved to Chicago after graduating college, then over time became a successful journalist. Living in a quiet area where whispers of winds created sounds of tranquility, inner city discord became a faint memory. Escaping the violent and disruptive city he was raised in, he left everything behind. Blake, Staples younger brother became a product of his environment, and was severely influenced by the streets of Pennsylvania. After Blake’s death Staple realized that he had not only left his past behind, but his brother too. Staple analyzed how things could have turned out differently. He wondered if his efforts to rescue his brother were enough.

           Staple was determined to become successful. It seemed to me that Staple had worked very hard to change the cards that life had dealt him. His motivation may have came from the violence and death he felt surrounded him. When one feels pressure to met a goal or a task that is important to them, they will work twice as hard to accomplish it. After gaining his career he completely submersed himself in his new life. His determination had paid off, and he was enjoying the rewards in peace. Staple stated, “Perhaps to protect myself, I added a psychological dimension to the physical distance I had already achieved. I rarely visited my hometown. I shut it out.” Using the phrase “physical distance I had already achieved” made it seem to me that one of Staples goals was to leave his home town.



           He was very descriptive about the violence and confrontation he had observed in his home town. He spoke about how Chester, Pennsylvania was an angry and heavily black populated place. He also mention countless acts of violence that he had witnessed and herd about. He expressed his distaste for the disregard of life by young black men who were being influenced by the streets. In a way I would venture to say that Staple was traumatized by this violence. In such a way it caused him to leave and not want to look back. With memories of pain and discomfort the past was not worth remembering.



            Blake also moved, but unlike his brother who moved to a tranquil place he moved to Roanoke, Virginia into public housing projects. The neighborhood was much like the one they had grown up in. Although Staple sought out change, his brother did not. Staple realized that Blake had become just like those young black men he once despised. Blake spoke about his run-ins with the law, and took pride in them. I’m sure it was surreal to Staple that they had turned out so differently. Staple’s determination led him to change the very thing that may have caused his brother to lose his life. He changed his environment. Although his environment did not have such a big roll in his success. Staple knew that it was a necessary change. For young Blake comfort was found in familiar situations and the life style he once embraced. Change was not something Blake was looking for.

              Staple had made an effort to help Blake change his circumstances. He pleaded with him to leave that place with the urgency he once had to leave Pennsylvania. He offered to buy him a plane ticket as long as he just got away from it all, but Blake blew him off. Staple’s attempt to help change his environment had failed. Blake was shot dead in his car by a person that use to be a friend. Through his success Staple had oppressed his passed selfishly thinking of his own well being. As time passed by he reached out to his brother after realizing the path he had chosen in life. Unfortunately it was to late. So wrapped up in the moment he had created Staple never stop to look back. Changing his environment allowed Staple to flourish in his success. In the end Blake’s environment caused his demise. Perhaps if Staple would have taken his brother with him from the beginning things would have turned out differently.