Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Thank you for so many responses! I happen to teach in Baltimore City schools and would like to learn more about my students' backgrounds. I started reading a few books over the summer (Maid, Hillbilly Elegy, Nickel and Dimed, etc. I feel like many of my students' parents are in the same situations as the mother in Maid.
I remember reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in high school and I read The Other Wes Moore a few years ago. Now he is running for governor.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. I don't read as much as I'd like during the school year but I'll keep a running list.
————————————————
The Corner would be a good book to start with, since it’s set in Baltimore. Both authors were extremely familiar with Baltimore. David Simon started as a journalist and Ed Burns started as a Baltimore City cop, retired, and taught middle school in the BCPS. They then went on to write and produce the Wire and the Corner. I say all this to say that the material might be dated, but for B’more, this is authentic.
If you want something a little lighter, Laura Lippman writes great mysteries— some stand alone and others part of her Tess series. She is wonderful at portraying multiple Baltimores, and is married to David Simon, adding additional credence to her detailed descriptions of life in and around Baltimore.
For something even lighter, check out Anne Tyler, although for the most part her books won’t address your initial questions.
Between The World and Me, and other works by Ta-Nehisi Coates might be important for you to read.
https://ta-nehisicoates.com/books/between-the-world-and-me/
D. Watkins is another writer that you might want to check out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtZN8vKTdWw
So many of these are written from a male point of view, so if I can balance that out a bit, I’ll add to the list.
https://www.amazon.com/Corner-Year-Life-Inner-City-Neighborhood/dp/0767900316