In Down These Mean Streets, Piri spends most of his life figuring out why he's treated differently for being a dark skin Latino. His father influences his perspective that not being white is a bad thing. Everyday in his life, Piri tries to find comfort as a Puerto Rican, however he's always mistaken to be African American. Piri tells his father "I'm black, and it don't make no difference whether I say good-bye or adios - it means the same." (147) to make him realize that his color does not have an impact on his personality, culture, or behavior, he's always going to be Piri from Puerto Rico.
