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			EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET: The Life and Work of Piri Thomas

Tell us what you think about EVERY CHILD IS BORN A POET: The Life and Work of Piri Thomas.

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12/21/2007
Misunderstood Dreamer

I have useed poetry as a creative self-expression. I think thats the best way for you to clear out your head and lift some weight off of you. I write poems a lot, I usually express the way i am feeling that moment or if I have something going on my mind. Poetry can take you to the nest level, its something INCREDIBLE!! By the way the poem under it's very good...

mike
dix hils, ny

Cant wait to see this. Always thought his life story would make an inspirational movie.

Maria

Piri Thomas is truely an inspiration for all Latino youth. I'm so glad to see that his story is being told for the world to know, needless to say I'm eagerly waiting this film.

Michelle Sepulveda
New Haven,CT

Piri Thomas's book, Down These Mean Streets, affected my soul as a teen and I'm a forty two year old African American woman. My biracial son (Puerto Rican-African American) read the same book and his soul was affected as well! We spoke at length about Piri's autobiography and bonded through the process. I was grateful that my son and I were able to reach up on a library shelf and find his truth!

D. Santiago
El Barrio

Wow. Just saw your film. There is alot you said that spoke deeply to me. I am inspired and want to learn more about what you speak of, and your life.

Shakir P

This man is one of the hopes and inspiration for Latino youth and youth all together

Nereida Millan
Hillsdale, NJ

I just finished watching your documentay on Piri Thomas. Way back then I was Piri's neighbor at 161 E. 103rd Street. My brother who was also brought up in Spanish Harlem writes poetry much like his and has published several books. Like Piri his poetry stems from his pain and his awarenes of life's injustices. My brother suffered many years with manic depression and out of this pain he writes his best poetry. Thank you for reminding me how it was and how far we have come. Well Done. Punto.

Brooklyn, NY

I saw the film for the last 45 minutes that were left, because I wasn't watching television, my husband was. When I saw the part about identity, it caught my attention and I asked my husband to leave it on channel 13 and we both watched it, unsure what it was about until I continued to watch it. I could identify with the film being a Puerto Rican raised in Brooklyn, NY in the early 1960's (since age 2). I myself wasn't sure that being Puerto Rican could be something to be proud of. My mom was very proud and P.Rican but I felt as a 13 year old around other groups that my nationality was a shameful thing, until I moved to Puerto Rico for about 8 years and saw the positive things about my people and my island. I attended and graduated from High School and attended a year and half in Puerto Rico. I learned more about my culture and how being Puerto Rican wasn't based on how some poor and uneducated Puerto Ricans lived in New York. I returned in 1984 and attended college and became an educator. I now have lots of knowledge about my heritage to pass to young Puerto Ricans and to those non-Puerto Ricans who may try to lower my people as being something negative. The film did show the ideas some Puerto Ricans had during the 60's, 70's and even 80's about wanting to be considered white and not black, due to that, the fact that the lighter or whiter you looked you then would be accepted by whites in your city. It got to the point that some Puerto Ricans, didn't want to speak or say they were P.R, because they thought it was an embarrassment to be one. Unfortunately, that was ignorance caused by lack of knowledge about the culture and contributions made by Puerto Ricans. I enjoyed the film and will buy it so I can see it from the beginning. I will try to find the book "Down These Mean Streets", and tell a few Puerto Rican co-workers about the book, especially the English Puerto Rican teacher, so she can expose her students to it. If it has cursing could the poet bleep or change the curses so his book can be used in NYC Public Schools. I hope this suggestion won't offend Mr. Piri Thomas. I am glad to see film about topics that tell about Puerto Ricans in NY or the US.

Ricardo Torres
New York, New York

Piri Thomas'life and writings provide much insight into the inner workings of poverty, race, and society in NYC and the US. I read it as a teenager (I'm now 56)and its message pretty much defined how me and my peers were living (at times): the streets, thrill seeking, anger, drugs, and alienation. Piri's literary style and poetry also appear to have laid the groundwork for that urban NuYorican style so epitomized during the last 30 years at the NuyoRicans Poet's cafe.Que viva Piri!!!

Christopher Bell
New York, N.Y.

Down These Mean Streets is still a pertinent book in the history and culture of East Harlem, Spanish Harlem, El Barrio. It is like fine wine. A classic that gets better with age. CBell, Author of Images of America-East Harlem

Alberto Jaramillo
Reynosa, Tamaulipas MËxic

i`m sorry about my words, i dont write in english but, the feelings are in all and each man, im a 30 years old mexican doctor, and i see the sick people and some times is what you do with your body wath is bad and i tell storyes for the cure and culture of this people, and mr piri inspires what i can say to this pacients, i do my work for help a little to my people , i hope i can do more for them, thank you mr piri thomas and mr jonathan robinson, and god bless you.... the mexican doctor alberto jaramillo

Douglas Vergara
Bristol, VA

WOW! Unfortunately, I only caught the last half hour or so of this fantastic program. Being a Nuyorican myself, I sure could identify... I was born and raised in New York, 1947-1966, when I joined the Air Force, in part, to escape the streets of Washington Heights. Had I not, I would probably be in prison or dead. The first thing I did, after watching this program was to rush out to find "Down These Mean Streets". The local book store here in Bristol Virginia will have to special order it. Is there any way to buy it from PBS, and is there a video (VHS, or DVD) available for purchase? I could not get enough of this moving and all to familiar experience. I may not be able to write or express myself as well as Piri Thomas, but I can sure feel it in my heart! Thank you, for giving me this opportunity to express myself, and possibly the chance to purchase the book and/or video. PUNTO

Jesse Candelario
Queens Village, New York

I was flicking through the channels on last time before lights out in my dorm room until i saw and heard something about Puerto Rico. All of a sudden i took notice of a man speaking about his story of struggle with defeat and his strength to rise up against the odds society has built to hold him down and that has held his people at a stance where self love doesnt seem to creap in through the cracks. I thought of one book. A book that has given me the strength to become an English creative writing major at Hofstra University through the blessings of the NOAH Program, Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas. As i continue to watch, i wondered if this man was Mr Piri Thomas himself being that i caught the show after its introduction. I was appealed by the brothers story, as i was to the novel. I told myself, "this has to be Thomas... it has to be." And sure enough it was. I told myself, "oh man Jesse you cant turn it off now papa." I thought of a conversation i had a couple of days ago when someone asked me what is the title of my favorite book and i answered immediately with Down These Mean Streets, Piri Thomas . Thomas ws able to create a piece that is filled with an unlifting connection to his people, and i dont mean the Puerto Rican people. I mean the people that struggle with societies ability to strip identity and self love through an array of obstacles. I was born and raised in Brooklyn New York and i have witnessed many of my boys turn away from there potential and gifts in exchange for the life of dealing and using, fighting for a cause that stood for nothing, and creating traps out of the blessing of choice. I am a senior at Hofstra University currently working on a novel, hoping to create a similar, if not grander, connection to my people.

Soledad Santiago
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Piri was the poet of my youth. I remember like yesterday placing Rocky, my new baby, in the center of his and Betty Elder's bed while we jammed together - Piri, Betty, Lefty and I. Betty and Lefty have passed but like Piri I'm still here. Please pass this message on to him. Oye bro, echa me un grito! Down These Mean Streets like Claude Browne's Manchild in the Promised Land continue to inspire generation upon generation. Viva Piri. Punto Soledad Santiago Streets of Fire

Amy
Iowa

This movie speaks to everyone no matter what the color of skin. I would like to thank Mr.Thomas for all he has done for opening the minds and hearts of many.

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