Piri Thomas

Piri Thomas was born in New York City in 1928, the oldest of seven children, and grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he became involved with gangs and drugs. After seven years in prison he returned to his old neighborhood as a youth worker. His first book, Down These Mean Streets, now considered a classic, was followed by Savior Savior Hold My Hand and Seven Long Times. He was the author of a play, The Golden Streets, and numerous articles, many of which have appeared in the New York Times...See more

Piri Thomas was born in New York City in 1928, the oldest of seven children, and grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he became involved with gangs and drugs. After seven years in prison he returned to his old neighborhood as a youth worker. His first book, Down These Mean Streets, now considered a classic, was followed by Savior Savior Hold My Hand and Seven Long Times. He was the author of a play, The Golden Streets, and numerous articles, many of which have appeared in the New York Times Magazine. He was the subject of three award-winning documentary films, including the PBS documentary Every Child Is Born a Poet. He also produced two CDs of poetry with music, which feature first rate salsa musicians from NY and the San Francisco Bay Area. He died at home in El Cerrito, California on October 17, 2011 at the age of 83. See less