I wanted this post to be longer but in order to keep it timely, here’s a micro-post with links to all the writing I’ve been doing this week. I hope to do a more in-depth recap of this wild week in writing later. Until then:
- I attended Freddie Gray’s funeral at New Shiloh Baptist on Monday — and left about 90 minutes before the riots broke out within blocks of the church.
- Baltimore has had black commissioners and black mayors, off and on, since the early ’80s. It hasn’t done much to improve relationships between government and poor black citizens.
- I’ve been glued to local news since Monday. Here’s why I’ve favored their coverage over MSNBC’s and (obviously) CNN’s.
- All Freddie Gray did to set in motion the fateful events that led to his death was look an officer in the eye. One chilling thing I learned writing this: running from police “unprovoked” is grounds for “reasonable suspicion” and subsequent arrest — but only in “high-crime” (read “poor, predominantly black”) areas. When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of this, Justice Antonin Scalia used the following scripture as rationale: “The wicked flee when no man pursueth.” — Proberbs 28:1a.
Stacia L. Brown 
7 responses to “I’ve been writing about my beloved city. ”
Stacia,
You, and Baltimore, are in our prayers. There are so many painful aspects about everything that is happening up there, but for this to be happening in the city you love and call home has to be particularly heartrending. Your strength can make a difference. Thank you for sharing.
Yours in faith, John
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, John.
This is really nice. Thanks for sharing
Who is the speaker?
In the photo above, the speaker is Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, who gave remarks before the eulogy. Pastor Jamal Bryant delivered the eulogy.
Ms. Brown, Your article in today’s Washington Post on Prince’s concert was very beautiful and moving. You seem to have perfectly captured the spirit of the evening and how much it meant to everybody there. Baltimore is my hometown, and I grew up listening to Prince. I know every word of every song you cite. Like you, I’ve been following everything that’s happening there very, very closely, and it just breaks my heart. I so pray and hope that things will get better, and I hope that the intense spotlight on the city will lead to meaningful positive change. Prince did bring a little sunshine to folks who desperately needed it. And I thank you for very much for conveying so well how much that meant.
RP,
Thank you so much for reading the piece and for your kind words. I’m glad to know that I captured your feelings about the evening and about Baltimore. 🙂