Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Perception
As mentioned already, people think of Baltimore and they think of danger, crime, poverty, homelessness, drugs and general nefarious activities. I moved to Baltimore from Southern Indiana when I was 11 years old and have lived here ever since(with a brief one year in Brooklyn, NY) and I'd be lying if those perceptions of Baltimore didn't hold some merit. However, I grew up in many of the same conditions as those living in Baltimore but it was in the midwest so to me these things happen everywhere and it would be naive of people to think that they don't. When we see shows like The Wire and other things taking place in Baltimore it's all bad and I think while it is in some ways accurate we need to focus on the positive stories that exist. Particularly of the people who live in Baltimore. I have been surrounded by so many people who come from the worst conditions and they excell and give back and are amazing people. I think the reason we don't hear about these people and the other great things in Baltimore(culture, food, locations, schools, etc) is because people on some level love bad news and until we cherish stories of success and greatness Baltimore's image will not change.
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Hello. I apologize- I was having trouble posting so decided to post my entry into a comment section:
ReplyDeleteGrowth to be Made, Success to be Acknowledged
Baltimore is a beautiful, yet struggling, city rich with potential. I have lived in two dramatically different Baltimore neighborhoods, Irvington and Roland Park, and have experienced a wide range of educational opportunities within the city. These experiences have shown me some of the wealth of geographic, socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and educational diversity that the city has to offer. Baltimore is generally considered to be a dangerous, impoverished and run-down place to live, and to a great extent, I agree with this perception. However, this perception does not reflect all of Baltimore. There are numerous safe, thriving areas within the city that do not receive much recognition. The many pressing hardships of the city seem to outweigh its improvements, triumphs, and successes; yet the improvements and triumphs are equally present. They may not seem as impactful as the hardships, but the struggles of Baltimore did not appear overnight. Similarly, neither will the improvements and solutions. As Baltimore is home to joy and heartache, unity and separation, responsibility and foolishness, and prosperity and survival, it is vital that the various communities of Baltimore both support and humble one another. In doing so, the city can continue to progress and really begin to maximize its potential.
-Maia Bedford
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