Down These Mean Streets Analysis

In the memoir Down These Mean Streets, the author Piri Thomas talks about his life as a dark skinned Puerto Rican and how certain decisions he made caused him to turn to drugs, get involved in criminal activity, and later on go to jail. Piri Thomas touches an abundance of themes throughout the book. They include self-identity, racism, his growth and transition into maturity, and self-acceptance. Throughout the book, the author Piri Thomas suffers through a lot of racism and is often discriminated against. Piri often has the a desire to be white and the privilege that having white skin allows and he feeds that desire by dating and being with white women. Piri had said that people wouldn’t believe that he was Puerto Rican and instead …show more content…
It is not until the very end when he learns to accept himself as a black Puerto Rican. He doesn’t understand whether he’s black or Spanish. The mix of identities causes Piri, to be confused about his role in society, and where he fits in. It bothered him when people would call him a racial slur or say it to another dark skinned Puerto Rican. It states that in chapter 13, it says, “It really bugged me when the paddies called us Puerto Ricans the same names, they called our colored aces...Why did it always bug me?” (Thomas 120). Puerto Ricans considered themselves not to be black so they would hate to be called the same racial slurs as black people. Piri also goes through a point of growth in maturity and, and growth as a person. At the end of the book Piri changes from being a person that was affiliated with a gang, and doing drugs to a drug free educator. After his last stint in prison, Piri promises to God that he would try to change which is a huge step. In chapter 33, Piri states, “‘God’ I concluded, ‘maybe I won’t be an angel, but I do know I’ll try not to be a blank. So in your name, and in Cristo’s name. I ask this. Amen’” (Thomas 317). This was a new start for Piri and he was happy about