Super Short Summary

The Street, written by Ann Petry and published in 1946, follows Lutie Johnson, a single mother of a young boy named Bub, who moves into a new apartment in Harlem during the 1940s. Despite the squalid conditions of the apartment and the threatening behavior of the building’s superintendent, Jones, Lutie believes the move is necessary for her and Bub's survival. She struggles against exploitation while attempting to secure a better future for her son. Sensitive topics include domestic violence, racism, and exploitation.