I am a human being who chooses to live in Baltimore, the Seventh District. I know a lot of other human beings here (granted, not all 620,000) who make the world a better place through their work in the arts and humanities. Some of them teach children, some work in museums, some perform, some have even written poems, books, and television shows about the city’s charms and pain (Ta-Nehisi Coates, D. Watkins, David Simon, Lady Brion, and Laura Lippman, to name a few). Really good books and shows. As you may have heard, another human here made a movie about the city’s rats (Theo Anthony). Many of these works eloquently teach about the history of racism and how things got to be the way they are—including the rats. But they are not really just about Baltimore, they’re about America.
The woes we suffer are repeated throughout the land. The thing about Baltimore is that we are awash with brilliant thinkers. They help us celebrate the beautiful, mourn the awful, and create solutions. Often, they point us to action and hope, and make the city a glorious place to live. We know there are heartaches, we face them every day. But this is our city and we will not only defend it, we can’t wait for you to visit. (Mr. President, I think John Waters has put you on notice.)
From around the country and here in Baltimore, artists and entrepreneurs, writers and historians are representing and speaking out for their city. Read on and be proud. #WeAreBaltimore.
Baker Artist Portfolios—See the Work of Hundreds of Artists in and Around Baltimore
Baltimore is a Hotbed of Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Navasha Daya, Fanon Hill & Local Artists Band Together for “Baltimore Stand Strong”
Culture Fly—The Calendar Brimming with Events in and Around Baltimore
Baltimore leaders: ‘Proud not only to be in Baltimore, but of Baltimore’
Baltimore, that City that Reads Again
International Arts + Mind Lab
To borrow a phrase, “Baltimore: Actually, I like it.”
(OK - maybe even love it.)
Jeannie
