Actually the "Battle Royale" scene, as the nude dance/boxing scene is called, was very gripping. It's hard to believe that black people could be treated so poorly (and that some white could be so cruel).
The part that I got hung up on was the 7-page sermon at the University, but once past that, the book pretty much held my attention throughout. I'm still at work so can't say much more. I'll have more thoughts tonight.
Dr. Bledsoe sort of reminded me of a cross between Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The school that the narrator attended was definitely based on Tuskeegee Institute which is verified by the fact that Ellison did attend that school. I wonder if he based Dr. Bledsoe on some Tuskeegee Institute official. As to The Founder, I am sure this character was based on Booker T. Washington although Ellison did mention them separately at one point in the same paragraph. Oh, and the Brotherhood is definitely the Communist Party U.S.A. since Ellison has stated that he was in the Party although he didn't officially hold a CPUSA card.
It wouldn't surprise me if Brother Jack was based directly on a comrade that Ellison knew in the CPUSA.