Baltimore Revisited: Stories of Inequality and Resistance in a U.S. City

by P. Nicole King (Editor), Lawrence Brown (Contributor), Daniel L. Buccino (Contributor)

Nicknamed both “Mobtown” and “Charm City” and located on the border of the North and South, Baltimore is a city of contradictions. From media depictions in The Wire to the real-life trial of police officers for the murder of Freddie Gray, Baltimore has become a quintessential example of a struggling American city. Yet the truth about Baltimore is far more complicated—and more fascinating.
 
To help untangle these apparent paradoxes, the editors of Baltimore Revisited have assembled a collection of over thirty experts from inside and outside academia. Together, they reveal that Baltimore has been ground zero for a slew of neoliberal policies, a place where inequality has increased as corporate interests have eagerly privatized public goods and services to maximize profits. But they also uncover how community members resist and reveal a long tradition of Baltimoreans who have fought for social justice.
 
The essays in this collection take readers on a tour through the city’s diverse neighborhoods, from the Lumbee Indian community in East Baltimore to the crusade for environmental justice in South Baltimore. Baltimore Revisited examines the city’s past, reflects upon the city’s present, and envisions the city’s future.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

378 pages, Hardcover

Published August 9, 2019

Reviews

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read for me. Each chapter is written by different authors and they take a look at a different part of Baltimore's history. I grew up in Baltimore county, just a few minutes from the city. As I end my 40s, I look back with confusion about Baltimore. The racial dynamics, the poverty, the city planning decisions, the role of the arts, the city markets, the waterfront, these issues and more are covered in the book. It gave me a lot of clarity. The book also addresses many current day issues and these are challenges that look daunting in today's world. But Baltimore will always be my hometown and I'll root for it's success.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept this book by my bed and would read a chapter every now and then, and finally just finished up the last three chapters. Each chapter is by a different author, examining a different piece of Baltimore. Some topics I was already familiar with, but the vast majority of the book covered places, people, and movements that, even though I've lived here for over a decade, I had not heard about. While most chapters are more academically written, they are short. This book is an excellent overview into the issues of inequality, covering both distant and recent history, and often looking towards policies for the future of the city.

[Ted Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a collection of articles on how racism shaped Baltimore. Of the 33 contributors, 23 are academicians. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but most of the pieces have an academic flavor to them. An underlying theme is that any development (private and/or public) in Baltimore City that does not directly and immediately benefit the African American neighborhoods is inherently racist. This includes the Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium, Harbor East, the Johns Hopkins and UMD Bioparks, and Port Covington. Perhaps a few articles penned by members of city government and the private sector would provide a more thorough and balanced story of Baltimore.

[Blane · Rating 4 out of 5]

From another reviewer of this book: "An underlying theme is that any development (private and/or public) in Baltimore City that does not directly and immediately benefit the African American neighborhoods is inherently racist." Ummm...that's pretty much because it is. My adopted hometown is roughly 62.6% Black. The "urban renewal" & "urban development" projects outlined in this book overwhelmingly have benefitted the white, rich, and powerful at the expense of everyone else. In the long run, this is why most of them have failed.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent addition to the cannon of Baltimore history and cultural studies. If there's anything to complain about, it's that I wanted more. More depth/detail and more chapters overall. That's not to say any of this book was shallow. It wasn't. I just wanted more.