Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas
"Down These Mean Streets" is a confessional autobiography by Piri Thomas that chronicles his challenging upbringing as a young man of African and Puerto Rican descent in New York City, particularly during the socio-economic struggles of the 1930s. The narrative highlights the harsh realities of life in Spanish Harlem, where Piri grapples with racial prejudice and the impact of his family's poverty. As the son of Hispanic immigrants, he experiences early awareness of social inequality, compounded by his darker skin tone and the favoritism shown to his lighter-skinned siblings.
The book details Piri's turbulent journey through adolescence, including his involvement with street gangs and criminal activities as he seeks belonging and identity. After moving to various neighborhoods and facing continual discrimination, he ultimately turns to drug dealing and burglary. His life takes a pivotal turn during his time in prison, where he engages in self-discovery and educational pursuits, striving to redefine his sense of self. Through themes of survival, redemption, and the quest for dignity, "Down These Mean Streets" offers a poignant exploration of the struggles and resilience of underprivileged Latino youth navigating the complexities of urban life and systemic barriers.
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Subject Terms
Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas
First published: 1967
The Work
Down These Mean Streets, Piri Thomas’ confessional autobiography, documents the brutal growing-up experiences of a young man of African and Puerto Rican descent in New York City. This testimonial depicts the Depression of the 1930’s in Spanish Harlem and the struggle to achieve an identity in a society where inequality prevails.
The dark-skinned Piri, known as Johnny Gringo, encounters racial and social prejudice beginning in childhood. The son of Hispanic immigrants, he becomes aware of his parents’ poverty at an early age. His father often submits the family to the humiliation of welfare, while the mother escapes reality by daydreaming about Puerto Rico. Piri, the oldest of five children, yearns for the love of his father, who favors the siblings with lighter skin. When the family moves to an Italian neighborhood, Piri is a victim of racial remarks and physical abuse. As an outsider, in his need to belong, he joins street gangs that walk down the streets “tall and tough,” and becomes a burglar.
In 1944, the family moves to a suburb in Long Island; Piri’s attempts to make friends fail because of discrimination. He moves back to Harlem on his own; unable to get a job, he starts dealing drugs. He achieves recognition and prestige among junkies and hoodlums.
Confused about his identity, Piri joins the merchant marine with his black friend Brew. Prejudice becomes intolerable after seven months around the world. He returns to Harlem. When Piri’s mother dies, the streets become his world again. Although he is in love with Trina, he fathers a child with Dulcien. Addicted to heroin, in need of money, he gets involved in burglaries. Convicted of an attempted armed robbery, he is sentenced to five to fifteen years hard labor in prison. His adored Trina marries somebody else.
In his twenties, while in prison, Piri tries to find himself through learning. Eligible for parole after four years, he focuses on preparing for freedom. He earns a high school diploma, three or four certificates, and three diplomas for Bible studies. Through self-discovery, faith, and endurance, he finds redemption. A classic coming-of-age narrative, Down These Mean Streets portrays the survival strategies of underprivileged Latino youth in urban streets and in prison. Through the achievement of self-respect and dignity, there comes a new sense of identity.
Bibliography
Flores, Juan. Divided Borders: Essays on Puerto Rican Identity. Houston, Tex.: Arte Público Press, 1993.
Fox, Geoffrey. Hispanic Nation: Culture, Politics, and the Construction of Identity. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. A general work on the growth of Hispanic ethnic groups in America. Contains a discussion of Puerto Rican literature that gives special attention to the influence of Piri Thomas.
Hernandez, Carmen Dolores. Puerto Rican Voices in English: Interviews with Writers. New York: Praeger, 1997. Interviews with fourteen Puerto Rican authors, including Piri Thomas, who write in English. The book will help readers understand the dilemma of the Puerto Rican writer, who must work in two cultural traditions, and it presents readers with the views of Thomas and his fellow authors on their work.
Rivero, Eliana. “Hispanic Literature in the United States: Self-Image and Conflict.” Revista Chicano-Riqueña 13, nos. 3-4 (1985): 173-192.
Rodriguez de Laguna, Asela, ed. Images and Identities: The Puerto Rican in Literature. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction, 1987.
Santiago, Roberto, ed. Boricuas: Influential Puerto Rican Writings—An Anthology. New York: Ballantine Books, 1995. An anthology of the most influential Puerto Rican writings of the twentieth century, both on the island and in the mainland United States. Intended to serve as a handbook on the Puerto Rican experience, this can help readers place the writings of Piri Thomas in literary and historical context.
Shorris, Earl. Latinos: A Biography of the People. New York: W. W. Norton, 1992.
Turner, Faythe, ed. Puerto Rican Writers at Home in the USA: An Anthology. Seattle: Open Hand, 1991. A collection of stories, poems, and essays about the Puerto Rican experience in America, including writing by Piri Thomas.