The City Singer

The City Singer is the unnamed protagonist and the narrator in "The City Born Great." He is a homeless black youth who is recruited by Paulo, the singer of Mexico City, to give birth to the soul of New York City. At first the narrator is unsure of his abilities and what he has to offer. He savors "the fantasy of being normal" (16). At night, he sings out on the rooftops of New York and paints graffiti mouths to help the city breathe. All he wants is food, shelter, and to just lie low from the Mega Cop monster circulating his city. By the end of the story, the youth has tapped into his strength. He has defended his city against Mega Cop and with the power of his five boroughs, has given birth to the new soul of New York City. He realizes New York...