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Summary: a must read for today's diversity issues
Review: this book was required reading when i was in junior high school in NY 25 years ago, and it left quite an impression on me. i'll never forget the issues of color amoungst his own race that the author struggled with and how he dealt with them.
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Summary: A Classic in Puerto Rican - Newyorican Literature.
Review: This has to be one of the most important books in Newyorican literature. Equally as beautifully written as, Esmeralda Santiago's "When I Was Puerto Rican". And Like Santiago's book, this one belongs in every Puerto Rican home. The book is powerful, raw, and holds nothing back. This is the autobiography of Piri Thomas, a Puerto Rican growing up in the harsh streets of Spanish Harlem. His harsh and troublesome relationship with his father. His early loss of his mother. Growing up with his friends in a gang, drugs, facing racism, incarceration, and at the end. Healing and growing. This book was given to me by a School Counselor in High School, and it has been with me ever since. Working with Street teenagers, I have also followed the tradition of my school councilor, and have given it to a few kids from the neighborhood who have never read an entire book in their whole lives. Afterwards, they have come back and thanked me. This is one of those books that hits the mark. Piri Thomas's "Down These mean Streets" holds an important spot in my library, it is a book that should be read, by all young men, no matter your backgrounds. It shows that no matter how harsh life may be, no matter how many bad cards life deals you, or how many harsh blows it throws at you, there is always hope. If Piri Thoma, as well as my self made it out of the streets alive, and live today in Peace, anyone can. Highly Recomended.
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Summary: Street classic
Review: This is a raw, no holds barred book written by a veteran of the street life. Drug dealing, hustling, pimping, robbing, criminal's pride, prison life, redemption--it's all here, but not in any sensationalized way--it's written from the heart by a man who offers no excuses for what he did but at the same time fully shows the allure that the thug life can have for impoverished communities. It is also a historically valuable document of the Puerto Rican community in New York during the 1950s and 60s, written by an insider. Insightful stuff, fully deserving of its reputation.
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Summary: Can I give it 10 STARS? Repin' HARLEM to the Fullest
Review: This is a remarkable book. Mr.Thomas you did your thang! This is the first real grown- up book I read back in 1995. I was sooo open I wanted to know everything that happened next. Piri was Wild! And knowing that this is an autobiography it's even more exciting. I love the way he represented the areas I've lived in or even went to school in. Piri told life how it really was and how it took him to learn about it. Growing up in Spanish Harlem put me on to a lot of Hispanics denying their African culture. It's true how some parents like Piri had act the same way as they did. I had the pleasure of meeting Piri Thomas at my school in Spanish Harlem also it was remarkable to picture such a character then really see him face to face although he was much much older. But it was still amazing. This book is Raw and it an absolute page turner let me tell you from a young Black teenager in Harlem THIS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK, AN ABSOLUTE PAGE TURNER!
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Summary: Painfully Honest Look at Life in Spanish Harlem
Review: This is a sort of "autobiography" based on Piri Thomas' life in Spanish Harlem. Thomas, a Puerto Rican, becomes involved in drugs, crime, and violence -- then ending up in prison. The manner in which he describes the events make you feel as though you've been there. It's a really ugly scene, but it's told extremely well and will keep you reading. The writing is so candid it's refreshing.
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Summary: A Man from Spanish Harlem Who Finds His Way
Review: This is an intense no holds barred glimpse into the ugly world of drugs, addiction, self-analysis,and the criminal world. The author gives the reader a realistic view into the world that was apart of his daily existance while growing up in Spanish Harlem. He also makes a self-realization about his ethnic identity and his addiction to drugs. He shares his thoughts about being involved in the criminal elements that seemed to be all around him. The author offers graphic images of his experiences in Spanish Harlem, that remains with the reader long after finishing the book. The author's family struggles and his disappointing moments are things that most kids today experience in their lives. I believe this book can serve as an inspiration to anyone who has felt they were an outsider while growing up in a tough neighborhood.
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Summary: I love this book
Review: This is one of my favorite books... It reminds me so much of Manchild in the promise land... which is one of my other favortie books... It almost made me cry, because some people learn lessons in some ways, and some people never learn... It makes me want to read the book again... Anyone who is interested in reading this book, please do so...
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Summary: ALL Boricuas MUST READ! I highly recommend to ALL!
Review: This is one of the first books I read, and it was very moving, touching and powerful for me. Being Boricua (Puerto Rican), born and raised in NYC's El Barrio, myself, and coming up on the same streets Piri lived on and wrote about made this book that much more special and personal for me. I was virtually able to re-live Piri's life through his book and eyes, albiet 50+ years later. Piri's writing style is icy clear, lucid, and sometimes pretty raw. He writes so artfully that the entire book becomes like an epic saga, one powerful movie in your mind! It's a story of unvarnished reality. Piri pulls no punches. (I'm imagining you should probably be 15+ or so to read this.) You'll laugh, cry, get angry and go on a roller coaster of emotions with DTMS. I was so moved and touched by Piri's work, that I read all of his other books, and developed a new outlook and perspective on everything from writing, to self identity, and dignity (one of Piri's faves). Buy Down These Mean Streets, in English or Spanish (Por Estas Calles Bravas), and pass it on. (I GUARANTEE you'll love it!) Piri is one of our first...and one of our best! The man's been p'al carajo and back, and tells it all in his unique Boricua style (often imitated, never duplicated). I developed a lot of affection and love for Brother Piri, and was even fortunate enough to meet the Living Legend and have him over our home for an unforgettable dinner as our guest, where my entire familia, friends and neighbors (who I all got to read his books) all had the pleasure of meeting the larger than life Piri! Much love, and respect to Brother Piri and and all of you, mi gente! (...)
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Summary: Latinos need to read this...
Review: This is seminal work. This is one of the great pieces of Latino-American literature, and it will remain so for decades to come, if not forever. This is a tale of life in the big city and growing up as an outsider. If you were the first family of color to move into a neighborhood, this book tells your story. If you grew up in a barrio, this book tells your story. If you have ever been hooked on drugs, gangs, the street, this book tells yours story. If you made it out, albeit with a few scrapes, this is your story. It is the tale of all Latinos in one book. It is the Latino experience in America. And that's why it needs to be read. Schools should make it required reading, parents should encourage it as summer reading (however, make sure your kids are mature enough to deal with some of the stronger material included). Buy it, read it, love it. It'll happen.
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Summary: Down These Mean Streets: Tough Lessons on Survival...
Review: This is true story of Piri Thomas' life during the Great Depression. The book unfolds with Piri's family living in New York City and all the challenges that, on an individual level, he challenges and is challenged. He is of Puerto Rican-Cuban ancestery who also has African roots. He lives his life trying to understand, when confronted, certain issues, pressing issues, such as what it means to be Puerto Rican, what it means to be Black, confronting prejudice and racial attitudes, gang membership, crime, violence, drugs, addiction, and finally he lands in prison. This book is about a young evolving with the forces of economic inequality, racial inequality and intolerance, drugs as a way to escape from all the pain. It is about a young boy who deeply loves his parents who, for whatever their reason was, did not understand his pains. Maybe his father did but did not want to confront his own pains. This is a book worth the read. I have revisited this book many times; each time with a new insight. Mr. Diego R. Rodriguez
Chicago, Illinois
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