Every Child is Born a Poet: The Life and Work of Piri Thomas

[kruzlc]

Read Down These Mean Streets, many years ago. To see my son play Jose was a blessing.

[sombreroelof]

What is the background music at 00:40?

[kantfail]

ok I'm glad people are inspired but i didn't get it, the first half seemed like children's tv and I couldn't watch anymore. Maybe it's because I am white and above the poverty line but imho his poetry isn't great putting it mildly.

[BrooklynJEW7]

@kantfail I can respect that. To be honest, I didnt think his poetry was fantastic either. I do like what he represents though. Some people need an external motivation to get out of situations like this.

[edthewise]

Wow this is great stuff I discovered him in a Drama course I had to take once.

[maxeythecat]

I've been looking for this one!! I read "Down These Mean Streets" when I was ten years old, and despite being so young and far removed from the lifestyle he wrote about, it still touched me very deeply. I loved and admired his brutal honesty and his sense of hope despite the horrific experiences he'd gone thru and have always wondered why I could never find out more about him. Thanks to the computer age, now I have. Thank you.

[lulucelest24]

40:45 was my spanish teacher in NYC, Mr. ferreira, omG i'm so static!

[iggypot]

QUE VIVA PIRI!

[briezy1139]

He made his first book at the age of 39 in 1967

[Belgusto1]

What's NOT to like about this. I thank my friend for telling me about Piri Thomas and his book, Down These Mean Streets. I've never heard of him or the book until now! Now, I'll make sure my friends and family know!

[Ferkat90]

Wow, wow, wow... Espectacular. Piri Thomas un verdadero orgullo puertorriqueño, a very true talented Newyorrican

[artistsassist]

Que vivan los poetas!

[MrGrevy]

No, every child is not "born a poet". What a stupid title.

[TwoGathered]

@MrGrevy

Not literally a poet, metaphorically. Before parents & siblings, puberty & society press the soul-limiting perspective this world calls "reality" onto a young mind, each corner holds an adventure, each door conceals a mystery, every happening is miraculous.

Thus, a poet uses that which is seen as having a definite meaning (definition) in striking, innovative ways that de-finite it. A child can see a spatula as a back scratcher or love as a life preserver. Poetry re-images life/words.

[MrGrevy]

@TwoGathered Well that makes sense. What about stupid kids though? Or kids who like sports? I don't think they qualify as potential poets.

[TwoGathered]

@MrGrevy

The "stupid" child may be one who sees life from a perspective that adults don't comprehend. Einstein didn't speak until he was 3, yet he learned to see & hear things others couldn't imagine. Sports is nothing more than a metaphor for the game of life. Can you put the ball/puck in/over the hole/hoop/net? Or run before others catch you? Are these not metaphors for sex & business, which most people chase after all their youth? Have you seen great athletes in slow motion? Poetry in motion.

[MrGrevy]

@TwoGathered I guess we'll have to just disagree. Sports are obsessively physical. You can attach poetic meaning to them but yikes - let's get real. They aren't inherently poetic. As for stupid people - I was talking about actual stupid people like autistotards and the developmentally disabled, not people who appear stupid but are actually geniuses.

[TwoGathered]

@MrGrevy

Though sports are physically expressed, it is the heart that determines the victor. Those who refuse to bow when their bodies are broken, who struggle against their feelings of fear, who sacrifice their bodies to protect their teammates, those who, through sheer determination, disregard thoughts of surrender and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat exemplify the power in the human soul, of which verbal poetry is just one example. The disabled give others a chance to show compassion.

[iggypot]

@TwoGathered wow thats profound my man!

[hoodbitch0]

iM STARTiN DiS BOOK TODAY..i WANNA KNO iS iT WORTH READiN??

[djmrparker]

@hoodbitch0 Can you even read, talking like that?

[LiiBonafide]

This is very inspirational and good. What a talented man.

[sergionavarro49]

I really recommend the book Down These Mean Streets by piri thoms. It s about his life in Harlem and It really good.

[screweveryoneinlife]

great documentary great author.

[pipiolomalo]

Aim a juvenile counselor at the only program in Pennsylvania we help Latino kids,Piry was and inspiration to me. I was one of those kids long time ago. I found Piry phone number and I talk to him about my Job, I ask him to talk to our kids and he did without question. I remember I play some Guaguanco rhythms for him on my congas over the phone and I felt like a kid , as a matter fact I feel like a kid now, and that is what poetry do to our souls! Vaya. Que viva la vida, I los Quijotes locos.

[Northside1000block]

I'm of Cuban/Mexican decent and this man Piri, we all need to hear. Alot of my brothers are in the Feds and I wish they could see this. You can really see the soul of a people in his voice and words. We all can make a positive contrabution to the Latino hood. I'm tryin to stop all the bullshit, all this drugs everywhere is out of control. The Violence and shit. I have to start with me though. I don't want to try to tell anyone else shit and I'm not doing good. Shouts to Puerto Rico Mi Manos

[IAmGodToYouDirtyRats]

I live in NY and I read his book(down these mean streets) a couple of years ago. It's very inspirational.

You should also read "Always Running: la vida loca" by Luis J. Rodriguez. This 2 books are a must for ppl living in the barrios.

[Khultan]

@IAmGodToYouDirtyRats I'm from San Francisco and I read that book in my mid teens in the mid 1980s. I don't know why I picked it up from a public library, but his account of growing up in the bronx in the 50s hooked me.

[BlueTan09]

Brillant! This is a true artist and spokesperson... President Obama should be lucky and honored to have someone of Mr. Thomas's abiility, talent, voice and stature stand up for him!! A true leader!!!

[TheRealMrGucc1]

100% educational nice film

[willowshaircare]

We read a book by him in english class, it was really good

[nalgaface123456789]

was it

down these mean streets?

[willowshaircare]

yes!

[YellowRangerGirl]

well, my life has been changed now........