“EXCUSE MY FRENCH!”
Ketsi:
A few months ago riots spread through the city of Baltimore, Maryland, after the police had handcuffed and brutally transported a young man, named Freddie Gray, who ended up having serious injuries and eventually died.
For a more detailed description of the course of events, read here.
On Thursday the 10th September we rolled into the city and I watched the horizon of industrial buildings and houses from the big road before we dived in to the streets. Since we didn’t have much time before the presentation of the evening I couldn’t get a wider picture of the town, but we took a walk around the closest neighborhood and I couldn’t help to stop by every other corner while I was impressed by streetart.
The presentation was gonna be held at ‘Red Emma’s’. A radical library and horizontally organized cafe. Such a big, open space, looked a bit like a warehouse, but had been made really cozy. The library part looked impressive and seemed to be well organized.
A person in Red Emmas told us that during those riots the mayor had forced a curfew from 22 – 05. The police where patrolling the streets, hunting for hoodied people, or probably anyone defying the curfew. During those ten days, the bookstore hosted many people who for example needed to go up early in the morning and wouldn’t be able to get to or come home from work without being on the street during those hours.
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The people working in the cafe fed us with amazing meals and then the presentation kicked off again. A lot of people showed up but sadly we didn’t have enough time before the space was gonna close (at ten) so after the presentation we broke off into more personal interactions quite soon. Suddenly there was a big and very loud crowd boiling in the room. The event was visited by more than 80 people. The cafe was still gonna close though, however the people where wrapped in their discussions, so they slowly poured out to the street and we packed our books and left.
It was a pity to having only one night in Baltimore somehow, but right on the same street as was a bar where there was some hip-hop going on. We asked a person that came out what the event was about. He was a super nice fellow and told us that they were playing some random songs but in a little while they will start with open mic. Earlier that evening he had set up a comedy night in another place in the same neighborhood and he thought it was important and inspiring to do positive things in the midst of everything that happened.
I can’t say that I liked the first person who took the mic, and it didn’t seem like the rest of the crowd did either. After some sexist or simply mean jokes his time was over and then some people took the stage to rap some good tunes. Then came “Icon the God” who was pretty talented and quick. Excuse my french stuck in my head. Then came some rainy spoken word. I felt like the content was kind of man-worshiping, which didn’t resonate in me, but she had good style and flow nevertheless. I was impressed by her confidence.
I wish we could’ve stayed to see more but time flew and there is a day tomorrow so we had to leave before midnight.
Sasha:
In every state or even city is so many different police cars. I decided to keep track of them. It’s kinda fun to make pictures of all the different vehicles representing the “diversity” which state can offer.
