My heart is breaking for Baltimore today. While not my hometown, I have spent many a day in the city-learning at Hopkins, cheering the O’s, running the marathon, hearing and singing with the BSO, and introducing family and friends to the science center, aquarium, and Ft. McHenry. But these are not the parts of Baltimore that are on fire. These are not the parts of Baltimore that cry out in pain from decades of oppression and violence.
As Baltimore burns this morning, I push away from the easy rhetoric; the “those people should behave” talk. Rather I seek the whole story. I seek to understand what drives people to lose their will be peaceful and pushes them to rage. I am not an historian. I am not a theologian. I am not a journalist. So instead of my own words, I share the words of others who are helping me glean perspective today.
David Simon-creator of The Wire
Two States of Emergency in Baltimore, The Atlantic
Non-Violence as Compliance, Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic
God was Born on the Streets of Baltimore, Jason Chesnut, Faith Interrupted
John Angelos, Orioles COO, perspective
An historical approach-MLK’s Speech in Gross Pointe, MI 3.14.68
Why Baltimore Burned, Forbes
Double Standard of Riot Coverage
I beg you, before you rant about unrest or attempt to place blame, try to get a 360 view. Turn off the cable news (all the channels, not just one.) Try to glean as much information as you can to understand the root causes. And pray, my friends, may we pray so fiercely for clarity, peace, healing, and justice—FOR ALL.
RunSingTeach 
Amen, Sarah, amen!