SOLVED. YA book from 60s/70s with black boys pulled between good/bad influences. [s]

[David]

I read this when I was growing up in Mt. Vernon, NY in the late '60s or early '70s. I believe it was a black male author, and I think it won some YA awards, maybe a Caldecott. It's about a group of boys, mostly black but also some Latinos, in a big-city neighborhood, and the central character was being pulled into considering joining a gang. I feel as if there was a lot of football played by the boys, too, in an actual organized league. The main character was making these choices on his own, I don't recall an adult figure being a big factor guiding him.

[Rainbowheart]

Durango Street?

[David]

Yes! That's it. Thank you so much. And I see a bunch of other books from that same author that I also read, based on having read this one.

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome, glad that was the right one!

[David]

Just finished it. Thanks again for solving this for me!

[Rainbowheart]

You're super welcome!