Savior, Savior, Hold My Hand

by Piri Thomas

Many people write about the ghetto. Piri Thomas lived there. In this book, the author of Down These Mean Streets tells what he found when he returned from a seven year prison term. Friends dying on heroin, or getting rich selling it. Jobs he couldn’t get, not because he lacked training or ability, but because the union was open only to whites. And an indomitable aunt who brought him into her church, where he met the woman who became his wife, and where he began to take an interest in helping others.
Eventually he got a job working with street children—helping them find highs other than drugs, trying to cool rivalries fueled by frustration, persuading gang leaders to surrender weapons originally intended for bloody street battles.
But even with success came bitter disappointments. Pervasive discrimination forced Thomas and his family to give up a suburban home. And an appalling hypocritical and selfish boss forced him out of his job—and almost back into prison.
Piri Thomas writes of these experiences with unselfish candor and compassion. He pictures the poverty and squalor as well as the spirit and vitality of the ghetto in a dramatic story that is blunt, painful, absorbing and profoundly moving.

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Piri Thomas (born Juan Pedro Tomas September 10, 1928 in Spanish Harlem in New York City) was a Puerto Rican-Cuban who was influential in the Nuyorican Movement as a writer and poet.

Reviews

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up as it is the direct sequel to Piri Thomas "Down These Mean Streets." This is an engaging account of Piri Thomas's desire to fuse a life of Christ and the world of el Barrio during the 1960s. His experiences in prison reinforce his conviction never to return. He joins a storefront club in Spanish Harlem to help his people. The book is written in the street lingo of the time. Like his first book I found the book ultimately positive and uplifting. In todays reality of gentrification most of the NYC world he speaks of is now long gone. Afterwards I found myself searching the internet for some of his spoken word. A great read!

[Kenneth jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book that moved my spirit

As a man who grew up in the church I totally identify with Brother Thomas I also can identify with him only I grew up in west Harlem. I was moved in that I also hate the hypocrisy and bigotry which exists in the church and it is time to stand against it. Like Down These Mean Streets this book to me is another classic from a man who to me is a great writer and poet.

[Vera Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written on rehabilitation and second chances at life.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

in this book he said that he pretended to be afflicted by the holy spirit when he was "'saved". ever since then I question holy rollers. The point is that this book shaped my outlook on interpreting peoples behaviors.

[Dingaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautifully written...