Thomas, Piri, 1928-2011

Variant names

Hide Profile

Author, poet and playwright, Piri Thomas is best known for his autobiography, "Down These Mean Streets" (1967) which deals with his early years growing up in East Harlem, the challenges of his Afro-Puerto Rican/Cuban heritage, and his involvement with drugs and gangs. His second and third books "Savior, Savior, Hold My Hand" (1972) and "Seven Long Times" (1974) are accounts, respectively, of the two years he spent in East Harlem following his release from prison and his incarceration. In addition to autobiographies, Thomas also wrote plays, screenplays, short stories and poetry. He was influential in the Nuyorican Movement as an author and poet and is acknowledged as one of the pioneers of spoken word poetry, a form of poetry performance.

From the description of Piri Thomas papers, 1957-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122686940

From the guide to the Piri Thomas papers, 1957-1980, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Council on Interracial Books for Children. Council on Interracial Books for Children. Director's files, 1954-1984. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Inventory to the Records of the Conference on Literature and Urban Experience (CLUE), Rutgers University Newark, April 17-19, 1980, 1978-1983 Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Inventory to the Records of the Conference on Literature and Urban Experience (CLUE), Rutgers University Newark, April 17-19, 1980, 1978-1983 Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Thomas, Piri, 1928-2011. Lecture at Sarah Lawrence College [sound recording] / Piri Thomas. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Felver, Christopher, 1946-. Chris Felver photographs of 20th century American poets, 1981-2003. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Piri Thomas papers, 1957-1980 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Thomas, Piri, 1928-. Piri Thomas papers, 1957-1980. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Council on Interracial Books for Children. Director's files, 1954-1984 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Council on Interracial Books for Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Felver, Christopher, 1946- person
associatedWith Sarah Lawrence College. corporateBody
associatedWith The Conference on Literature and Urban Experience (CLUE), Rutgers University Newark corporateBody
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
New York (N.Y.)
New York (N.Y.)
Subject
American literature
American drama
Authors, Puerto Rican
Black author
Censorship
Censorship
Discrimination in education
Discrimination in education
Human rights
Human rights
Identity (Philosophical concept)
Racism
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1928-09-30

Death 2011-10-17

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zw2v0k

Ark ID: w6zw2v0k

SNAC ID: 69132612