Urban Fiction, the Literary Voice of South Bronx
Souleymane Porgo peers out from behind his book stand on 149th Street. (Photo by Stuart White.)
By Stuart White
MOTT HAVEN, BRONX (4/13/2011) – Urban fiction – a genre that paints an unvarnished portrait of life in the inner city – has become the genre of choice in the South Bronx. Read the full story in the Mott Haven Herald.
Urban fiction—which is frequently serial in nature—is available everywhere. Publishing giant Simon & Schuster even has a division it calls G-Unit featuring novels co-written by rapper 50-Cent.
But the books go beyond traditional bookstores and online sellers, often being sold in stands on street corners like the one run by West African immigrant Souleymane Porgo, or “Slim” as he’s know to his regular customers.
On a recent day, there were three stands like Porgo’s in the vicinity of the Hub, and they seem to be successful. Porgo says he sells at least 15 to 20 books a day, enough to make a living.
“It’s like entertainment,” said Porgo, explaining the books’ popularity. “It’s like movies.”
Stuart White 