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Piri Thomas
Born September 30,1928 in East Harlem, New York was a writer & poet. His birth name Juan Pedro Tomas. He was shown racial discrimination because of being a Puerto Rican dark skin.

Down these Mean Streets is a book in where Piri Thomas Talks about all his struggles living in the Harlem,NY while being a dark skinned Puerto Rican. He faced discrimination & He also explains his journey in jail and traveling around the world.

Piri Thomas moves between Harlem and Long Island. The book is arranged by setting. later on Piri moves to Italian turf then back to Harlem. the Setting is mainly in New York, except when Piri and his friend Brew go down south.

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• Piri- Main Character
• Poppa & Momma - Parents
• Brew- Friend
• James, Miriam, Jose-siblings
• Trina- friend

In my opinion the conflict was Piri trying to figure out where he fit in society. he was always discriminated because he was a dark skinned Puerto rican, and his father treating him unfairly led him to many issues like drugs.

I think the best part was when Piri went to jail because i really think it helped him change, basically the streets were the ones who raised him and being in jail showed him right from wrong. The Worst part was when Brew just disappeared & Piri never knew why, i didn't like this because i feel they were close and in some way Piri felt abandon.

i think Piri Thomas wrote this book to help us understand his life and all the struggles he faced growing up in New York and how everything let to him growing up in the streets.

Who would like this book?
i think anyone who enjoys reading about events that are based on real people would really like this book.

More On Piri

Piri Died October 17 2011 en El Cerrito CA.
he has six kids and three stepchildren And his Wife Suzie Dod Thomas