Thirty years ago Piri Thomas made literary history with this lacerating; lyrical memoir of his coming of age on the streets of Spanish Harlem. Here was the testament of a born outsider: a Puerto Rican in English-speaking America; a dark-skinned morenito in a family that refused to acknowledge its African blood. Here was an unsparing document of Thomas's plunge into the deadly consolations of drugs; street fighting; and armed robbery--a descent that ended when the twenty-two-year-old Piri was sent to prison for shooting a cop.As he recounts the journey that took him from adolescence in El Barrio to a lock-up in Sing Sing to the freedom that comes of self-acceptance; faith; and inner confidence; Piri Thomas gives us a book that is as exultant as it is harrowing and whose every page bears the irrepressible rhythm of its author's voice. Thirty years after its first appearance; this classic of manhood; marginalization; survival; and transcendence is available in an anniversary edition with a new Introduction by the author.
#874672 in Books 1997-07-29 1997-07-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x 1.10 x 5.20l; 1.20 #File Name: 0679749772512 pages
Review
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy WalkerVery good book.0 of 6 people found the following review helpful. BookBy Tricia L VanVorceThe book was in good condition but was not exactly what I was looking for. It was too general a text; as I required more of a scholar study.8 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Book Review by Charles Michael FarleyBy Charles Michael FarleyBy Mary Beth Norton. Founding Mothers and Fathers: Gendered Power and the Forming of American Society. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf; 1996; hardcover 1996. Pp. ix; 496; appendix; abbreviations; notes; index....hardcover.)From the time of the Pilgrims to present day; women have played more of a substantial role than they are commonly accredited for. In Founding Mothers and Fathers: Gendered Power and the forming of American Society; Mary Beth Norton parlays her idea that although woman did not have an independent role in the political arena of early American society there were many woman and groups of woman who knew the undisclosed sins of the community. This they used in the assumption of leadership roles among the communities. Norton goes on to explain power inside the household as well as in the community. She connected Sir Robert Filmers' (The Filmerian view) and John Lockes' philosophies (the Lockean view) to both domestic life and the political structure and formation of early American society. As you probably know; the practice of bearing children was most likely the primary focus of 17th century colonial woman. Lacking in birth control; a woman would go through a constant cycle of becoming pregnant and giving birth. Norton points out that these regular childbearing sessions excluded men from attending. It is very important to understand the role of the midwife. She could be the necessary one in keeping the woman and child alive during birth. She could; as well; expose any form of bastardization; premarital sex; adultery; and infanticide. The power of the midwives and the ignorance of men on the subject of childbearing gave way to many cases in which women could bend around the "man-made" laws. It is probably demeaning these days to say that woman "gossip." Well; according to Norton; this did indeed go on during colonial times. The reader will discover the "gossip networks." Due to the fact that woman were separated from men in many social aspects led to these networks. Rumors of criminal activities would travel this way to the Colonial Magistrate and would very often result in punishment for the crime. I found the two different philosophies on gender power to be very interesting. Should the most power come from the parent most represented; whichever that may be? This idea would bring more power to widows and present them with a greater role in the community. However; the people of this enlightened area would demand that the power of a woman's authority was inexistent outside the home. Mary Beth Norton is a very accredited historian. This book gives remarkable incite to the power of woman in colonial times. Anyone interested in the social history of our country would enjoy this book and feel enriched after reading it. Many of the woman's roles discussed were unknown to me. Norton puts them across in a very intelligent and unquestionable way using many actual cases of the times to back up her theories. This book; although written by a scholarly author; is not a difficult reading. Since it deals with many aspects of colonial life unknown to many people the readers interest should withstand through its entirety. Indeed; woman played an immense; although not formal or independent; role in the formation of our country as it is today. -Charles Michael Farley-
