We Must Demand A Change To Save Baltimore
Baltimore, often dubbed “BodyMore MurdaLand” due to its high violence rates, is at a critical juncture. In these trying times, it’s common for many to point fingers at the mayor as the source of all our problems. However, we must recognize that the power to change our city rests not only with the mayor but also with us, the citizens.
It’s high time we rebranded Baltimore, shifting the focus from violence and crime to the city’s vibrant talents and creativity. The media’s consistent portrayal of our city as a perennial top-three contender for the highest murder rate does a disservice to the wealth of potential we have right here.
The responsibility to make Baltimore a better place falls on every one of us. We often see our youth fall victim to the streets, squandering their incredible potential on a path that leads to either death or incarceration. But we see much more in this generation than just drug dealers and killers. We see young kings and queens with a legacy of royalty in their DNA, but many are lost and broken, lacking strong, wise role models.
It’s crucial that we instill in our youth the belief that they can be successful men and women capable of conquering the world. They need honesty and guidance, and this responsibility rests with us all. To succeed, we must set aside our egos and embrace networking and collaboration.
Our generation is full of intelligence, talent, and potential, but many of us are struggling and lost, uncertain of where to start. It’s time for us to invest in our generation, to ensure they don’t become another grim statistic.
Our youth is our future, but too often, we witness them becoming followers, misled because they don’t know their own potential. Some have to grow up in the absence of their fathers, left to navigate the treacherous path of life without guidance. Single mothers, while capable, face an uphill battle in raising children without their missing link.
The absence of fathers plays a substantial role in a child’s life, often leading them down a dangerous path. When there’s no fatherly leadership, kids are more likely to stand on a street corner selling drugs than sitting in a classroom gaining an education. Many young individuals in our city become products of their environment, simply following the example set before them.
It’s heartbreaking to see our youth turning to drugs to escape their harsh reality, thinking it’s “cool” or “popular.” But these habits have a detrimental effect on their well-being. My generation is normalizing behaviors that should not be considered normal, and that’s the sad part of it all.
We know that change is needed, yet we still witness violence, shootings, and other crimes in our city. The problem isn’t just about Baltimore, as we observe similar issues in other races. However, the statistics reveal that our city, predominantly Black, has a higher crime rate than other places across America.
To bring about a change in Baltimore, we need to restore hope, reinvest in our struggling youth, and support their dreams, even when we may not have full faith in them. We must unite as citizens, understanding that there’s more power in unity than in tearing each other down. We can do it.
As Martin Luther King Jr. aptly said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We need to become the light that Baltimore needs, rebuilding our neighborhoods and peace. We need more voices speaking out about the issues at hand and more community involvement.
Our city desperately needs job opportunities to steer young scholars away from the streets and into productive, income-generating endeavors. Mentorship is essential for our youth to understand that they can become lawyers, doctors, or anything they aspire to be.
In many neighborhoods, kids as young as 13 become curious about selling drugs, often because they see it happening in their community. By 16 or 17, many have dropped out of school and are on street corners. This cycle starts when they are quite young, and the absence of guidance plays a significant role.
Our generation should no longer normalize negative behaviors; it’s time to break the cycle of violence, drugs, and crime. We should be living for the future, not just the present. To create a better Baltimore, we must stand together, invest in our youth, and help each other achieve our dreams. Unity, love, and hope can drive out the darkness that currently engulfs our beloved city.
