The riots? (Baltimore, Mayo: house, neighborhoods, university)

[lemonhead]

So...okay this might be a little of a longer explanation but I kind of want to include it if only to vent a little.

I live in west baltimore, me and my husband sometimes get on his motorcyle and go exploring the city...not far away from our house we have come across places that look like a bomb went off...like there was this war that we somehow missed and that no one talks about.

I am just a little country girl, and this whole racial tension and the history of it in Baltimore is just so different from anything I've ever experianced. It's very tiring at times...but it's always made me realize there are a lot of things I don't understand, and that I am missing a lot of information in my determination about Baltimore.

All that being said, I am looking for books/newspapers/websites about the history of this stuff. I want to read about the riots (I know the paper did a good article on it last winter...it was right when we had first moved to Baltimore and it was really helpful) but I find most of the information to be lacking in perspective...as in I feel like I am missing some important peices of information about the events that led up to the riots. (e.g., the L.A. riots didn't just appear out of nowhere, there was a long history of housing restrictions, job restrictions, etc. that fueled it for decades before any rioting actually occured) That's the kind of information I want to know.

I know this sounds kind of stupid but...you know, this is my city...I think it's history is really important in understanding the type of city it is now.

[barante]

The University of Baltimore sponsored an excellent retrospective conference on the riots. If you google, you may find what you want.
Here is the timeline:
Timeline
Baltimore, unlike many other cities, had not experienced major riots before the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. As to the causes, interpretations vary. Some scholars reject the appellation "riots" and prefer "disturbances" or "unrest."
http://www.examiner.com/a-929948~Antero_Pietila__Mayor_s_No_1_task_is_create _new_jobs.html (broken link)
http://www.examiner.com/a-172599~Antero_Pietila__Heal_the_city_s_lasting_sca rs__Reinvigorate_riot_torn_areas.html (broken link)

[baltimore's best]

Originally Posted by lemonhead

So...okay this might be a little of a longer explanation but I kind of want to include it if only to vent a little.

I live in west baltimore, me and my husband sometimes get on his motorcyle and go exploring the city...not far away from our house we have come across places that look like a bomb went off...like there was this war that we somehow missed and that no one talks about.

I am just a little country girl, and this whole racial tension and the history of it in Baltimore is just so different from anything I've ever experianced. It's very tiring at times...but it's always made me realize there are a lot of things I don't understand, and that I am missing a lot of information in my determination about Baltimore.

All that being said, I am looking for books/newspapers/websites about the history of this stuff. I want to read about the riots (I know the paper did a good article on it last winter...it was right when we had first moved to Baltimore and it was really helpful) but I find most of the information to be lacking in perspective...as in I feel like I am missing some important peices of information about the events that led up to the riots. (e.g., the L.A. riots didn't just appear out of nowhere, there was a long history of housing restrictions, job restrictions, etc. that fueled it for decades before any rioting actually occured) That's the kind of information I want to know.

I know this sounds kind of stupid but...you know, this is my city...I think it's history is really important in understanding the type of city it is now.

Not sure the "riots" had that much to do (some, I'm sure) with the bombed out neighborhoods. More economic issues I believe.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by baltimore's best

Not sure the "riots" had that much to do (some, I'm sure) with the bombed out neighborhoods. More economic issues I believe.

100% correct.

[lemonhead]

my bad....one of the locals told me that was the story behind the particular area I was asking about so I guess that's specifically what I mean.

Regardless, how would anyone know what I'm really talking about if I don't say what street/building?
And especially since that wasn't really the question at all.

guess I'll just go back to trolling the library for someone who knows instead of posting on the internet.

[zesty waters]

What area of Baltimore are you talking about? Since the riots there are areas of Baltimore that never re-established a shopping area, some area were regentrifide, some areas people left, etc.

[sbyman]

if you were on pennsylvania ave then there is a chance that you saw vestiges from the riots. i dont understand the racial tension here because i am from th eeastern shore and i grew in a very small community and what i hear the black people say up here are really harsh about whites, but many are very nice and cordial to them. i am black by the way. You missed the symposium that a local Jewish organization held on their involvement with the riots. I had the flyer for it but i couldnt go because i had class that night.

[rudy_d]

The University of B-more offers a map for a self-directed driving tour of locations damaged by the riots:

Driving Tour

[carolott]

By the way, I think it's important to point out that your question wasn't stupid at all. Thank you for taking the time to study and understand the city instead of making snap judgements. With that kind of attitude, you have a decent chance of having a great life here.

Welcome to Baltimore!!