Each installment aims to evoke a sense of intergenerational accountability, where the actions and struggles of ancestors are recognized as resources and the needs of future generations are considered.
The Baltimore Legacy Project (BLP) is an initiative dedicated to unearthing the rich cultural memory of Baltimore, capturing the essence of its residents, and chronicling the pivotal events that have shaped our city over the past seven decades. BLP provides a foundational understanding that will empower the development of future leaders in Baltimore City, providing them with a socio-historical cultural context to build upon.
BLP is a series of interviews that culminates into a documentary series (docuseries) and is based in the belief that the stories, experiences and reflections of the elders of Baltimore are crucial in preserving Baltimore’s legacy. BLP highlights not only the experiences and perspectives of elder residents who have witnessed Baltimore’s transformation, but also those who had a hand in shaping it.
“The youth can move quickly, but the elders know the way.” –African Proverb
By sharing their stories we aim to provide current and future leaders of Baltimore City with a socio-historical, cultural context that will serve as the foundation for future development.
In 1983, Dr. Joanne Martin and her late husband Dr. Elmer Martin established the Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Ms. Catherine Orange runs Arena Players, the oldest Black Theatre in America. First established in 1953.
To encourage viewers to see history—not just as something to reference—but as an instructive tool for present-day activism and future planning. The docuseries seeks to spark a “family meeting” on what we’ve learned and what we still need to do.
To uplift the voices of everyday people—especially youth, clergy, educators, and community organizers—who have historically been overlooked but are central to the city’s resilience and collective memory.
I am Rasheem, a social scientist and researcher by training and profession. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to analyzing how socio-historical contexts shape individual experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex ways identities impact lived experiences. My research has always centered on Baltimore City, Maryland. However, the challenge with my published studies is that they remain behind academic paywalls, accessible only to scholars rather than the very people impacted by the findings. Those who do read my work often engage with it as an intellectual exercise rather than applying it to social change. My goal is to ensure that the work that I do in and for Baltimore makes a tangible difference in the lives of its residents. This ambition has led me to embark on a new journey, one that involves utilizing my social science research skills in a way that I never have before. This journey is not just important to me but to the city of Baltimore and beyond. I am directing a docuseries called the Baltimore Legacy Project (BLP).
Hear from 20 Baltimore residents who share their personal stories and first-hand accounts of the aftermath of Freddie Gray’s death in 2015, following his tragic encounter with the Baltimore City Police. Through intimate interviews, the documentary captures the raw emotions, frustrations, and resilience that defined the city’s response to the injustice and unrest that followed. Baltimore Still Rising is not just a recount of events—it is a testament to the ongoing fight for justice, the spirit of community, and the hope that, despite the challenges, Baltimore is a city still striving to heal, rebuild, and rise above.
“Baltimore is a repository for many people, of many of their worst assumptions and fears about Black people…The Wire doesn’t become a hit series by accident. Because people don’t know enough about Baltimore to see it as anything other than a projection of their own imagination.”
– Lawrence Grandpre, Leaders of a
Beautiful Struggle
Mass media and propaganda about Baltimore has dominated
mainstream consciousness. Media that sensationalizes drugs, crime and poverty. The goal of “Beyond the WIRE” is to challenge dominant portrayals of Baltimore that center only on crime and poverty by highlighting its long-standing tradition of resistance, community
organizing, and grassroots leadership.
A significant reduction in homicides, crime, and shootings has been observed in Baltimore. While various parties, most notably law enforcement and government officials, seek to claim credit for this trend in a city previously characterized by high rates of violence, the contributions of community-led and faith-based organizations engaged in on-the-ground efforts of violence interruption, prevention, and deterrence are often underrepresented in the dialogue about who reduces crime in Baltimore.
