Down These Mean Streets and many other books including Stories from El Barrio , and Seven Long Times . Piri Thomas also has recorded two CD's of wordsongs . This interview, conducted in his home in the San Francisco Bay Area is divided into three sections. The first two sections are an in-depth response to the first question which deals with the Piri Thomas's inspiration to start writing, and specifically the inspiration for Down These Mean Streets . Interview and photos by Nic Paget-Clarke.
Writing has such a power for expression.
When I was in prison, you have so much time. Even when you can't talk with no one else in the whole world you can talk to your paper. Your feelings whether good, bad or indifferent. We call it despojo in Spanish which means to be able to get rid of all this agony, weight inside of you. It brings clarity.