Down These Mean Streets for me … is an account of the victory of innocent values over a dehumanizing environment.
This innocence comes from Piri's complete immersion in life, and his absolute commitment to telling the full story without selective omission. Piri's innocence survives the baptism of the street because he arms it with a survival tool: chameleon-like self-assertion. Thus the self-conscious voice of the prologue—"I am My Majesty Piri Thomas"—carries innocence to safety through the mean streets of brutalization. (p. 197)
This is a free excerpt of 81 words. There are 1,064 words (approx.
4 pages at 300 words per page) in the full critical essay.
Read the rest of this Criticism with our Thomas, Piri 1928–: Critical Essay by Larry Garvin Access Pass.
