John Dow

Confessions of a Brooklyn Streetfighter John Dow

John Dow has been a fighter all his life. It was a matter of pure survival. As the son of two impoverished teenagers, Dow didn't have many advantages growing up. His father, an abusive alcoholic, never tried to protect him from the harsh realities of the world. In fact, he contributed to the hardships of Dow's daily life.



Dow thought things would get better when his mother finally kicked his father out of their home in Brooklyn, but instead, they became even harder for the small family. There was never enough money or time. Dow spent most of his childhood out on the streets of Brooklyn, among the slum lords, junkies, gangsters, dealers, and others who called the borough home. The only way to stay safe-and sane-was to fight.



In this memoir, Dow recounts the many lessons he learned out on the street. The seventies were in full swing in New York City, and Dow would be there to witness the enormous changes they brought to the world around him. His story is one of violence, chaos, and brutality, but for him and his community, it's just another New York night.