This is a positive example of pride in the story. Brother is the first to recognize that Doodle is an intelligent child. It's a little chilling when we know that six-year-old Brother wanted to kill Doodle when he though he wasn't intelligent. The story tries to show that people should be valued for the simple fact that they are alive, despite any physical or mental disabilities
Embarrassment is part of pride for Brother. He thinks he can't be proud of himself if Doodle is disabled. He has the idea that physical disabilities are something to be ashamed of, and that a disabled person reflects shame on family members.
Throughout the story Brother stresses the duality, or the double sidedness of pride. It can push us to achieve important and valuable goals, but can be destructive if we lose sight of more important themes. Brother's pride pushes him to give Doodle a life away from his rubber sheet on the bed. When Brother's obsession with turning Doodle into the "ideal" Brother goes to far, his pride.
We think Brother is being way too hard on himself. If he didn't love Doodle in a deeper way, would he have spent so much time with him? We doubt it. If he didn't get along with Doodle, he would have found a way to escape hanging out with him. pushes Doodle to his early death.
This is a bad moment for Brother. When he takes Doodle to Horsehead Swamp that Saturday before the first day of school, he knows it's too late to meet the goals he set for Doodle. Again we see shame and pride coming together. Brother can't deal with the shame of 'failing,' so he continues trying when he knows it's futile.