1455’s Author Series continues virtually with Brian Broome, who will read from his memoir Punch Me up to the Gods.
Punch Me up to the Gods is a searing memoir that introduces a powerful new talent in Brian Broome. This gorgeous, aching, and unforgettable debut narrates how Brian spent his early years growing up in rural Ohio as a dark-skinned, Black boy harboring crushes on other boys. His recounting of his experiences – in all their cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartbreaking glory – reveal a perpetual outsider awkwardly squirming to find his way in. Indiscriminate sex and escalating drug use help to soothe his hurt, young psyche, usually to uproarious and devastating effect. A no-nonsense mother and broken father play crucial roles in our misfit’s origin story. But it is Brian’s voice in the retelling that shows the true depth of vulnerability for young Black boys that is often quietly near-to-bursting at the seams.
This book deals with important topics from someone who’s experienced them first-hand, including Blackness, masculinity, sexuality, gender roles, poverty, alcohol and drug addiction in a poetic voice that is uplifting and funny, despite the serious topics it tackles.
Cleverly framed around Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem “We Real Cool,” the iconic and loving ode to Black boyhood, Punch Me Up to the Gods is at once playful, poignant, and wholly original. Broome’s writing brims with swagger and sensitivity, bringing an exquisite and fresh voice to ongoing cultural conversations about blackness in America.
Pre-order Punch Me up to the Gods
1455 is thrilled to partner with The Potter’s House bookshop.
Event Details
May 27 | 7:00 PM | FREE EVENT
1455’s Founding Director Sean Murphy and the author will discuss the process of writing this memoir. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions prior to or during the conversation. Submit your questions for Brian ahead of time by emailing info @1455litarts.org.
1455’s Author Series events are free, but you can make a donation to support us in offering accessible programing.
Tune into this event on Facebook at the event time to watch the live stream!
About Brian Broome
Brian Broome is an award-winning writer, poet, and screenwriter, and K. Leroy Irvis Fellow and instructor in the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is pursuing an MFA. He has been a finalist in The Moth storytelling competition and won the grand prize in Carnegie Mellon University’s Martin Luther King Writing Awards. He lives in Pittsburgh.
Find out more about Brian and his writing at brianbroome.com
