While Baltimore is known for many esteemed things like its historical significance during the Revolutionary War, the amazing seafood, and the impressive legacy of Edgar Allen Poe, it is also almost impossible to ignore its prominent reputation of being one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Largely thanks to the depictions of it in the hit TV show, “The Wire”, many Americans associate Baltimore with high crime rates and consider it to be, as President Donald Trump puts it, a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” that is a “very dangerous and filthy place.”
When I first announced my decision to go to college here, I was met with a great deal of concern from family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. In fact, I distinctly remember one conversation that I had with a woman while waiting in line at the grocery store in my hometown: I was wearing a t-shirt with my highschool’s name on it that read “Class of 2018” and she asked me where I would be attending school in the fall. When I answered, “Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland”, her disposition immediately shifted to one of worry and she responded: “Oh, God. Good luck, but please be careful - things have gotten so out of hand there!”
Although it’s easy to jump to the simple conclusion that Baltimore is just a bad place filled with people who do bad things, the actual reasoning behind the city’s stigma is far more complex and strategic. Baltimore’s infamous “sketchy streets” and rampant drug problem in the present day are a result of systemic racism that dates back to the 1930s when banks refused to give loans or invest in neighborhoods that were predominantly populated by black people. This practice, known as “redlining”, forced minorities into specific low-income regions to purposefully keep them separate from the rest of the population and perpetuate poverty. These designated areas were therefore given significantly less access to adequate resources and, in turn, the people who lived there had little opportunity to advance and progress. The effects of redlining are still very evident to this day and, according to one article in The Washington Post, “It's little wonder, then, that dealing drugs might look like a viable way to keep a family afloat in a neighborhood with soaring unemployment. It's no wonder that incarceration would follow, along with family breakdown. And it's no great surprise that Baltimore's deeply troubled neighborhoods today are many of the same ones that were deemed ‘undesirable’ 75 years ago.”
These photos are from a local elementary school and the surrounding area that was forced to close due to lack of funding
With this in mind, it becomes more clear to see how this negative stereotype came about and why it is crucial that we not just turn our backs on these communities and write off the people there as criminals and thugs. If the cycle of poverty, crime, and violence is to be broken in Baltimore, there needs to be far greater investment in the public schools, businesses, and housing here. For more information about how you can get involved and make a difference in our city, Strong City Baltimore is an excellent resource.
All of this is not to say that you should walk through York Road alone at night. That is not safe and you should not do that. However, in my almost four years living here, I have never felt threatened or in fear for my life. As long as you keep your wits about you and use a little bit of street smarts, odds are you will not run into any issues. Some tips I have for general security and safety are as follows:
Use the buddy system, especially at night and in unfamiliar areas.
If you absolutely need to go somewhere alone, stay on the phone with someone you trust and remain on the call until you arrive at your destination.
Always tell someone who isn’t with you where you are going and share your location with them on your phone so that they can check that you are where you’re supposed to be.
Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t just look at the ground or at your phone, constantly be checking around you.
Walk with purpose. Even if you don’t know where you are going, walk with confidence and like you are on a mission so that you don’t look lost and, therefore, vulnerable.
Carry pepper spray or a pocket alarm/whistle that you can use in the case of a dangerous situation.
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