Down These Mean Streets is Piri Thomas’ coming-of-age story in Spanish Harlem.

    DO NOT utilize ‘outside sources’ to answer any of these questions: you are expected to use the class materials, and to cite information appropriately! 

Down These Mean Streets is Piri Thomas’ coming-of-age story in Spanish Harlem. In the memoir, Thomas recounts his Depression-era upbringing, and his continual struggle with racial identity. As a youth, Thomas engages in several acts of deviance and criminality, eventually landing in prison after shooting a police officer during a botched bar robbery. You must utilize two theories from the second half of the course to analyze Thomas’ behavior, and the reasons for his actions, in the memoir.

You must discuss some of the events in the book explicitly. That is, I should be able to tell from your answer that you have, in fact, read the book – however, do NOT submit something to me that is solely a summary Thomas’ actions. I am not looking for a plot summary: the emphasis here, as always, is on using the theory to explain how social forces affect human action – if you do not do this, you will fail the final, period.

THOROUGHLY EXPLAIN the theories that you use; be sure to DEFINE TERMS. Write as if the reader would be unfamiliar with the theories utilized. TAKE THE TIME TO DISCUSS ONLY THE THEORIES FIRST – FOLLOW THE OUTLINE. Note that as you are using two theories, each theory, its discussion, and the relevant examples alone are worth 40 points!: so be sure to provide as much essential detail about the theories as possible.