black folks in that number(20+) are rarely heartless thugs going around beating up people for no reason. self righteous maybe, but not evil like that. He either deserved those ass whoopings and they felt like they were doing right by beating him up. I suspect the locals didn't give him the N word pass he claims to have and he would regularly face the consequences of talking to them like that. Or they were defending somebody else from being jumped by him and his friends on some Alabama river boat shyt.
Now you're creating your own story. The new kid in school getting jumped is not some rare occurrence. NY in the 80's was wild and that's the Bronx. It's totally believable that he was getting whupped on and no they didn't need a reason.
otherwise he is probably exaggerating about 20 number, and just dealt with one or two neighborhood bullies everyday.
no way 20 people see you and be like on sight every single day
This is what he's embellishing.