DOWN THESE MEAN STREETS

by Piri Thomas ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 22, 1967

Manchild in the Barrio: same kind of life style, same impact, similar rough language--one to take in yourself, to give out carefully. Piri Thomas, now 39, a Puerto Rican, beat the streets of Spanish Harlem, fighting the battle of color, and at 22 he landed in jail to serve six years for armed robbery. He tells his life from late childhood to release from prison in ""straight-up"" narrative and dialogue--swinging, short-phrase slang, a fantastic conglomeration of Spanish and jive. Each incident is related almost as though he were reliving it moment by moment. He's always fully alive, whether fighting, making it, hustling, junking and beating the habit, or staving off the ""bad-o"" influences in prison, and finally coming to precarious peace with himself. The book talks, mostly with candor, humor, fierce emotions, and simple immediate understandings; it talks straight to, at mature young people.

Pub Date: May 22, 1967

ISBN: 0679781420

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1967

Categories: NONFICTION