City Paper captures my last quotes on the Zach Sowers tragedy

Source: Frank Klein

In a city that seems all too eager to embrace simplistic explanations of crime and violence with the “good” people and “bad” people properly assigned, City Paper has joined almost every other major publication/news broadcast in Baltimore in featuring the tragic story of Zach Sowers. A young husband who was robbed and beaten into a coma by three teenagers in June 2007. Mr. Sowers eventually died from his wounds. The three teens were arrested and given various sentences.

The story has garnered great traction in the press since then because of a variety of “newsworthy” factors. While, the beating received coverage partly on its own merit, one can’t forget that the tragedy took place during the run-up to Baltimore City’s Mayoral Election and allowed for politicians to dust off the perennial campaign issue of “public safety.” The dynamics of the beating also were salacious to media outlets: the victim was White and the attackers were Black – an unavoidable fact in light of a city that is ruled by the minority (the White Power Structure). The persistence of Mr. Sowers’ widow has also been a driving force. Her efforts to create some type of change in the city as a result of her husband’s beating and murder have been well documented. And finally, a well-oiled communications team from the megalith that is Johns Hopkins surrounded the victim’s family and have used all of their resources to keep Mr. Sowers in the press.

I have been interviewed repeatedly about the Zach Sowers case for various publications. I was one of the persons that Anna Sowers and her colleague, Ramsey Flynn, met with when they were shopping an idea to have “Black Leaders” speak out on the “Stop Snitchin’ Culture.” I won’t re-write my commentary on this whole thing here, but I will say that I no longer have a desire to be interviewed by mainstream press on this issue. The Sowers Team has their own plan on addressing violence and related issues in this city and in its current state, I wish to have no part of it – nor do they seem to want to heed the counsel of anyone outside of their cocoon. I wish them well.

I will say that with all of the hurt that I have experienced in this city, I have also experienced great joys. I love Baltimore City and it is from a position of love that I work to make it a better place. The fuel of bitterness, anger, and disdain will ultimately sputter out and leave people stranded on the side of the road of real change – no matter how pure their intentions. In the education field, I’ve heard people say, “You can’t teach children you don’t love.” If I were to modify that around this issue, I’d say you can’t change a city you don’t love.

Some in the article have expressed their desire to get out of town and discourage their friends from ever coming here. I wish them Godspeed. I, on the other hand, will be here to face with fortitude the next tragedy, the next joy, the next injustice, and the next glimmer of what can be. Why? Because I and many many others love Baltimore City.

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