The poisonous notion of white supremacy is the root from which many of our experiences of American culture grows. It is what successive generations of black Americans have risked their lives to eradicate. It is the refuge from fair competition that has unjustly privileged white Americans for two and a half centuries.
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A Case for Student Voice
Wednesday, July 01, 2015When Baltimore City erupted on the afternoon of Freddie Gray’s funeral, many adults froze in front of their television screens. The imagery of high school students hurling bricks and bottles at police in riot gear was, to many, stunning, shocking, astonishing. I was not astonished. Instead, I was saddened, because I was watching evidence of something I’d long known: We’d failed our students.
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Guilt Before Innocence—This is Baltimore’s Bail System
Tuesday, June 23, 2015While civil unrest may have eased in Baltimore City, many of the individuals swept up in the police crackdown are still in jail—going on two months later—as they await final judgment of their criminal charges.
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Justice’s False Choice
Friday, June 19, 2015In the wake of the rise in homicides in Baltimore, certain members of Baltimore’s police department are promoting a deceptive and dangerous narrative, translating the public’s demands for more humane policing as a request for impotent policing.
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After the Uprising: Uplift Baltimore’s Youth
Wednesday, June 10, 2015The events that followed the death of Freddie Gray revealed several Baltimore fault lines, including a disconnect between younger generations who are awakening to the structural racism and inequality that limits their opportunity and established institutions that purport to make things better.
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Why Baltimore Won’t Get Justice from Police
Thursday, June 04, 2015In order to think about solutions to the system, we need a deeper understanding of the problems. Police are trained to address violent crime, despite the fact that the majority of the calls for service that they receive are nonviolent in nature.
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A moment of empathy and resolve
Tuesday, June 02, 2015In the aftermath of Freddie Gray’s death, photos and video of a city in flames played on a loop in the national media, spurring fear and leading distant viewers to believe that Baltimore was burning for days. Those in the city felt the impact of that fear—in the crowded police presence at protests and the inconsistently imposed curfew. But those of us on the ground, especially those who came out to march, also felt a surprising and tangible sense of hope.
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After the Uprising: Transforming Police Culture
Thursday, May 28, 2015The road to justice and equality in Baltimore does not begin or end with the Baltimore Police Department. The conduct of Baltimore police, however, is front of mind for people who care about Baltimore. Thus, how to improve policing in Baltimore is a logical focus at this time.
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We need to get closer
Tuesday, May 26, 2015The demonstrations and violence that followed the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody took some by surprise. But to others who have lived in many of Baltimore’s neglected neighborhoods, the uprising felt inevitable.
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2014 Grants and Donors
Tuesday, May 19, 2015We can see it. We have a vision of Baltimore where every child can be healthy and prosperous. We see a city where no one lives in poverty or is held back because of racial discrimination. We see Baltimore as a beautiful city where opportunity is abundant and we can all thrive. We can make […]