Blog #8: Writer's Panel

Loyola’s second panel of Baltimore writers spoke to a wide audience this past Friday, March 16 to discuss the pros and cons of writing on such a large and complex city like Baltimore. The four writers present were Baltimore Sun columnist, Gregory Kane, editor-in-chief of Urbanite magazine, Elizabeth Evitts, poet, essayist, and professor at Maryland Institute College of Art, Chezia Thompson Cager, and award-winning children’s book writer, Jane Conly. Each writer spoke on the topics they write about as well as their reason for doing so. They write on certain topics in hope of making a lasting impact on the city of Baltimore.

Gregory Kane is not only a columnist for the Baltimore Sun but is also the creator of BlackAmericanWeb.com. He enjoys writing columns as opposed to articles because in columns he is able to voice his opinion. With a Baltimore perspective, Gregory’s column is primarily based on crime, prison, politics, and sports. His main goal in writing is to force his readers to see different points of view. Gregory believes that in order to capture the reader’s attention the ending of a column must be just as strong as its lead. When asked what the major challenge is in writing columns he responded with “getting the truth and having no end to the material that he writes about.” The must frustrating part about writing columns is getting responses. Gregory is persistent and said he will not walk away until he has received an answer. The hardest people that Gregory has to deal with are correction officers and the local school systems. The one thing Gregory wants to see done in Baltimore neighborhoods are renovations just like what has been done downtown and in Belvedere Square. He believes that if there is a come back in the area there will be more job opportunities for teenagers.

Urbanite, the magazine that Elizabeth Evitts works for is free and issued monthly. This magazine is solely based on Baltimore. 40% of the magazine’s readers are from outlying counties. Through this magazine they either build a relationship with Baltimore or rekindle one that they used to have. Each month the magazine has a new theme with different perspectives. The staff of the magazine consists of both professional and non-professional writers. While working in the field of writing Elizabeth has walked in the footsteps of Jane Jacobs, her role model. Jacobs was both an observer and researcher which enabled her to broaden her writings. She mostly wrote about zoning, politics, and community meetings. When reporting Elizabeth keeps Jacobs in mind. Elizabeth always steps back to see the true story that is trying to be told. When asked what she would like to see changed around Baltimore Elizabeth responded with “seeing different areas of the spine renovated.” By the spine she means areas off of North Charles Street and St. Paul.

Chezia Thompson Cager presented her thoughts to the audience by singing her works. The two poems that she sang were Country Woman and City Girl. Chezia puts her way of seeing the world into her writings. Her works are mostly based on people, culture, tradition, and life in great detail. By listening to her works she covered mostly every aspect of society.

Jane Conly is best known for her to works that are solely based on her experiences in Baltimore. Before she came to Baltimore she was originally from Leesburg, Virginia. After attending the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars Program Jane wrote Crazy Lady and While No One is Watching. Crazy Lady is based on Jane’s earlier days while she was volunteering at a free medical clinic on the north end of York Road. It was at this clinic that she came into contact with an alcoholic mother and her retarded son. While No One is Watching is a story based on Earl and Frankie, young children who steal a rabbit and bicycle from a backyard on the wealthier side of town. Their reason for stealing the rabbit and the bicycle are because they always wanted a pet of their own and a bicycle just like all kids their own age have. It turns out that this story is based on a real life situation. Kids from the other side of Baltimore stole Jane’s children’s rabbit and bicycle and with further investigation and getting the police involved Jane discovered their reasoning and way of life. After discovering this Jane decided to share her point of view through writing. What makes Jane so interested in writing about Baltimore is the city’s culture clash. The culture clash allows readers to open their eyes and experience something different from their norm.

Each of these writers provided the audience with their person opinions of Baltimore and without openly saying it encouraged us to go out into the city and do what we can to make a difference. They told us through their writings what areas of the city need to be changed. These authors have provided us with the same challenge as that of the Year of the City. As students living here in Baltimore we should be motivated to better our home of the next four years.

Tony Hoagland’s America makes many similar points to those of the authors at the Writer’s Panel. Lines 27-28, “I was listening to the cries of the past/ When I should have been listening to the cries of the future” relates to the goals of the four writers as well as the Year of the City, that we can no longer live and change what has happen in the past but work to better our future and the community in which we live. Lines 31-32, “When each day you watch rivers of bright merchandise run past you/ And when you are floating in your pleasure boat upon this river” relate to Jane Conly’s piece While No One is Watching. These lines support the way she once lived and thought before she came into contact with the young children who stole her kids rabbit and bicycle. Having a run in with the young children from the other side of Baltimore helped open her eyes to the devastating lives that they live. Lines 33-34, “Even while others are drowning underneath you/ And you see their faces twisting in the surface of the waters” relate to Jane Conly’s new perception of Baltimore. After she further investigated the robbery that took place at her home in the wealthier side of Baltimore she came to the conclusion that there are other people in this large and complex city that are suffering terribly. They were never taught right from wrong; therefore it is left up to local citizens like us to mentor them. The last two lines of the poem, 35-36, “And yet it seems to be your own hand/ Which turns the volume higher?” serve as an incentive for us to make a difference in this city. We are obligated as local citizens and members of Loyola College’s Year of the City program to turn Baltimore in a positive direction.