A glove connected with my head, filling my mouth with warm blood. It was everywhere. I could not tell if the moisture were sweat or blood" (P212). Not only is this quote colorful, it gives you a sense of what he is going through. However, it also represents the struggle the African American population went through to be socially accepted and treated equally in a society that has a greater number of white people after the abolition of slavery. It portrays how the black population blindly fought, not knowing what always for, just as the boys in the Battle Royal fought. The segregation of schools, restaurants and different public facilities were issues that African Americans intensely fought over to gain acceptance and equality. These different battles are represented by the savage beating these young boys were giving one another in the ring, being witnessed by high classed, white individuals. As the fight continued the white spectators, absorbed by the brutal fighting going on began yelling cruel words at the ten young men in the ring. The spectator's actions can easily be taken as how the white population treated African Americans for many years. The white population often felt superior to the black minorities and took on a stance of authority. .
The fight finally came down to just two individuals, one being the narrator. As the two individuals stood on opposite sides of the ring the blindfolds were removed. This revealed that the narrator would be exchanging blows with the biggest of the other nine boys, but by the time he realized this the bell sounded and the final bout started. It was really no contest, the narrator had gotten a few punches in but was overmatched by his oversized opponent in a matter of minutes. After his brutally beaten body was lifted to its feet he noticed the portable ring being removed and a small square rug being put in its place. At first the narrator thought it was put out for him to deliver his speech, but then it was announced that boys who had participated in battle royal were to come to rug and collect their money.
