Piri Thomas has the ability to captivate people through his writing and recitation of his poetry. He connects with people of all walks of life through the topics of his writings. The theme of the struggle of humanity and finding oneself is very prominent in his work. He speaks of the difficulties people face in society: poverty, racism, crime, etc. But he also speaks about hope, love, family, and children. He uses his life as an example for all of these and allows us to further explore the world through his eyes and the eyes of others like himself.
Thomas began writing short stories at about age 13. His love for writing and self expression was evident to his teachers and others who knew him personally. Although, Thomas had a talent for writing, it was not until he was imprisoned for seven years that he began to truly express himself through pen and paper. His first autobiography, "Down These Mean Streets", which he wrote partly in prison, was his first real attempt at confronting issues that he had been faced with in his life. This work was partly remedial in the sense that it aided Thomas in his path toward self discovery and bettering himself. It also allowed him to attain a sense of freedom and helped him to exercise his mind. And when it was published and introduced to the public in 1967, it awakened people to Puerto Rican life in the streets of Spanish Harlem.
In most of Thomas's writing, from his books to his poetry, he speaks of the reality of society and the world both in the past and in the present. Thomas speaks of the race relations within the Puerto Rican community and the discrimination felt by a "black" Puerto Rican. His memoirs are filled with stories about the racism he encountered as a child by his "white" neighbors and by his own people. His prison memoir, "Seven Long Times", focused a lot on the dehumanization associated with the prison system and his struggle to survive behind bars.
Thomas considers writing to be a way to reach those who are burdened by the struggle to survive in a place that thrives on bringing others down. Thomas' writing and poetry inspires people to hope. It ignites a passion within the reader, especially within those who can identify with his life story, to eradicate the injustices that loom in our society.
"Down These Mean Streets" (1967) is an autobiography and is Thomas' most well known work. In "Down These Mean Streets" Thomas tells a story that is full of emotion and love. It is the story of his childhood, his family, and his life in the inner city. The book touches on topics of racism, poverty, crime on the streets, brotherhood, and cultural identity. This book is considered to be a classic because of its depiction of New York inner city life at the time and the people who lived there. The New York Times Book Review called this book "a linguistic event".
"Savior, Savior, Hold My Hand" (1972) is another autobiographical work by Thomas. It is similar to that of "Down These Mean Streets" because the style of writing is informal and is written in the vernacular. The book addresses similar issues that its predecessor does but it contains stories that deal a lot with Thomas' life and his search for himself.
"Seven Long Times" (1974) is a memoir about the seven years that Thomas spent in prison. The book begins by telling the story of the stickup that led to his imprisonment and continues to tell more stories that address the racism and the injustices that Thomas faced when he served time. Some stories also speak of the helplessness and isolation that he felt at times. This book presents prison life from the perspective of a prisoner and allows the reader to see Thomas and others in the story in a real light. This book exposes the reader to life within the prison system and explores a world that deals directly with the human experience.
"Stories from El Barrio" (1978) is a book written for young adults about street life in Spanish Harlem. It contains eight stories about the realities of gang life, poverty, and violence. Each story is part of Thomas' past experiences with the streets as a youth. The stories are meant to inform people of all ages, but most especially the young about the consequences of living a life full of danger and false hope.
Thomas has also written a two-act play called "Las calles de oro" or "The Golden Streets". The play was produced and performed in 1972 in New York by the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. It was directed by Miriam Colòn.
Thomas has also produced CDs that contain "wordsongs", which are poems set to different kinds of music (salsa, gospel, beat of conga drums, Latin jazz, etc.). He has two CDs the first entitled "Sounds of the Streets" and the second entitled "No Mo' Barrio Blues".
