Books You Should Read: Down These Mean Streets

I had the pleasure of reading Down These Streets in my minorities in literature class during my studies at Rutgers University.

Down These Mean Streets

This powerful read, even though written nearly thirty years ago, still resonates today.

Down These Mean Streets by the late Piri Thomas, is a classical autobiography where Thomas documents his coming of age on the streets of Spanish Harlem.

Thomas is a Puerto-Rican in English-speaking America, a dark-skinned morenito in a family that refused to accept him. This novel explores the deadly consolation of drugs, street fighting, and robbery – which ended when Piri was sent to prison for shooting a cop.

Piri recounts the journey of being an adolescent, being locked up in Sing-Sing, to overcoming these obstacles through faith, self-acceptance, and inner confidence.

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About Piri Thomas

Piri Thomas was born to Puerto Rican and Cuban parents in New York City’s Spanish Harlem in 1928. Poverty in the ghetto led him to drugs, youth gangs, and a series of criminal activities, for which he served seven years in prison. There he began his life of rehabilitation, vowing to use his street and prison experience to turn youths away from lives of crime. Thomas then lectured at schools and universities across the country.

Thomas published three more books: Savior, Savior Hold My Hand in 1972, Seven Long Times in 1974, and Stories from El Barrio (1978). He also wrote a play, The Golden Streets, and material for television specials.

He moved to California in 1983. After losing his wife and long-time companion, Betty Elder, he married Suzie Dod in 1988. Together they promoted a program that he called “Unity Among Us,” emphasizing the dignity of all human beings. They also completed two CD’s of his poetry with state of the art music, Sounds of the Streets and No Mo’ Barrio Blues.

Thomas died from pneumonia at his home in El Cerrito, California on October 7, 2011. He is survived by his wife, six children, and three step-children.

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