Down These Mean Streets Sparknotes

Racial prejudice and discrimination often leaves its victim in a weak and vulnerable state; it elicits emotions of helplessness, non-belonging, and may manifest itself in a binding and enduring identity crisis. In the course of American history, decades of progress have been made to amend the wrongs of slavery, the wrongs of discrimination and prejudice, and the wrongs of segregation and morally conflicting understandings of equality. However, progress has never been swift, and mental afflictions were and are still cast over millions of those who are affected. Seen in Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas, the story portrays a world of segregation and racism that ultimately affects minority life choices and chances. By integrating literary …show more content…
The literature develops with a Puerto Rican adolescent boy named Piri Thomas who grows into adulthood. The stream of consciousness structure used effectively exposes the intricate mentality, emotions, and psyche of one growing up poor in a “ghettoized” neighborhood, Harlem. In addition, the surrounding environment Piri lives in is not conducive of opportunities nor is welcoming of his race and color, leaving him with a growing spite and question of racial identity. The inadequate feeling of belonging further exemplifies the mental struggles Piri experiences. Concurrently, the story commonly uses street slang and Spanish phrases to contribute to the overall lifelike experience for the reader and creates a distinct taste that ultimately serves as a connection for Piri and his lineage as a Puerto Rican …show more content…
Upon moving to a new white Italian neighborhood, Piri is confronted by a gang of several Italian kids of around his same age with an extremely derogatory opening conversation of “hey, you dirty fuckin’ spic” (24). Considering that this type of literature is built upon an interpersonal thought oriented flow, the story captures his emotions of anger and the immediate and warranted hatred for Poppa, his father. Because of Poppa’s decision, Piri had moved to a white majority neighborhood. It is in this environment his dark skin serves him a greater potential target for racism in this white majority neighborhood. Additionally, many future social encounters adds to his mental confusion of identity of whether he was seen as a Puerto Rican or an African American in the eyes of others. For example, “it really bugged me when the paddies called us Puerto Ricans the same names they called our colored aces” underscores the beginnings of the emotional challenges Piri must confront by himself his own racial identity, and above all, the perceived loss of his own identity along with it (120). Here, the literary device, bildungsroman, excellently demonstrates the mental thought processes of the protagonist to characterize the psychological toll as a result from racial