Baltimore will always have a special place in my heart. It is the place of my birth, and I have fond memories of growing up there. It is a beautiful city.
However, it has always been plagued by a deep racial divide. During the five years that I lived there, I was too young to grasp this sad reality. So when I saw the news of the protests in Baltimore taking a violent turn, I was very disturbed.
As I've grown older, I have learned about American history and the legacy of the Civil War, and how America is still struggling for racial equality. I thought that incidents of race-related violence and crimes were only restricted to other parts of America, like the Midwest and the South.
The strife in Baltimore struck a personal chord. I hope and pray that the recent discord in the city of my birth awakens the conscience of America. The injustices against African-Americans are flooding the headlines with greater frequency than ever.
As a 14-year-old, it is my heartfelt desire — like millions of other teenagers — to witness a change in the status quo.
Fatima Minhas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.