The recent events in Baltimore have given me much to think about in the last two weeks. It doesn't seem like anything has changed since I was eight, when my father had to go downtown to protect his store. I didn't know what was going on then and it wasn't discussed. Only years later was I shocked to learn what had happened in my city.
I think I'm fairly smart, educated and think I keep informed of the current political and social issues in my community and city. I'm a good neighbor. Keep green. I try to do the right things. Give to charity financially and by being involved. I raised a child to be as conscientious as I could. Her being a Ph.D. candidate in child psychology couldn't be more noble.
Having been all over the world, I moved back to the city I love by choice.
So how do I begin to understand what is happening to the city's poor black community? I certainly can't compare or relate; I'm not black or poor. Still, I know the people who say "can't they just finish school and get a job?" aren't even close to reality.
So where does this leave me? I can only think of my own struggles in life. I have had a few: I quit high school, have struggled on and off with addiction, been homeless, on welfare and on food stamps.
I've lived in halfway houses and even spent some time behind bars. But I always seem to bounce back.
How? I didn't receive bundles of money from my family. No free rides. Is it only because I'm white? I refuse to believe there is a conspiracy against black people, but am I just being naive?
Howie Cohen, Baltimore