POSTPONED: MLK ARTISTIC CELEBRATION BY KONDWANI FIDEL: UNTIL THE END OF RHYMES
Kondwani Fidel believes “the only things we truly own in this world are our stories and our experiences.” And at The Walters Art Museum, the 28-year-old Baltimore poet, author, and Coppin State professor is set to pay a fitting tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with excerpts from his forthcoming EP.

Currently untitled, this labor of love is what Fidel calls “the embodiment of self-expression, while also trying to better understand and convey the complexities of Black American experiences as they relate to where I come from.”  And when he debuts these new poems—alongside other local artists like Black Assets and APoetNamedNate—the East Baltimore native hopes that listeners are left understanding the importance of storytelling and free speech without fear.

“That is something that MLK embodied,” says Fidel. “Black, outspoken voices are protests within themselves, because historically, we never had the luxury to share our stories at this magnitude. Sharing your story is the first stepping stone to understanding your place and mission in this world.” Stay tuned for a rescheduled date later this year. —Grace Hebron

1/1: GARY BARTZ/CYRUS CHESTNUT & AFFIRMATION
Start your new year off with the soulful sounds of these local jazz legends in Harbor East. Keystone Korner. 5 p.m. $35-45.

TO 1/2: ANIMATIONLAND
Delve into the world of animation and storytelling in this new interactive experience for all ages at Port Discovery. Port Discovery Children’s Museum. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-5 p.m. Free- $19.95.

TO 1/2: BETTY COOKE: THE CIRCLE AND THE LINE
In the first major museum retrospective of her work, this 97-year-old Baltimore artist displays American Modernist studio jewelry, plus drawings, photography, and design sketches from throughout her renowned eight-decade career. The Walters Art Museum. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

TO 1/2: A MODERN INFLUENCE: HENRI MATISSE, ETTA CONE, AND BALTIMORE
Take a deep dive into the BMA’s renowned Cone Collection, founded by Baltimore collector Etta Cone, and explore the friendship and partnership she shared with famed French artist Henri Matisse. The Baltimore Museum of Art. Wed.- Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

TO 1/2: THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH
In this new play, follow the Pulitzer Prize-winning tale of New Jersey patriarch George Antrobus, who stops at nothing to shield his brood from unrelenting misfortune. Everyman Theatre. Times & prices vary.

TO 1/2: ZOO LIGHTS
From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, the Maryland Zoo hosts its highly anticipated celebration of holiday lights among the animals. The Maryland Zoo. Fri.-Sun. 5-8 p.m. Free-$26. 

TO 1/4: TELL OUR STORY: A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT HOUSTON
Explore the powerful work of Baltimore photographer Robert Houston, including documentation of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign and Resurrection City, alongside images by contemporary Baltimore and D.C. photographers. Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Mon, Thurs.-Sat. 12-5 p.m. Free-$12.

1/6-8: BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 7
Electric violinist Chloë Hanslip brings a supercharged rendition of a Beethoven classic to the BSO. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. $10-90. 

POSTPONED: BALTIMORE CRANKIE FEST
Now in its eighth year, this eclectic local tribute to the panoramic “crankie” scroll descends on Highlandtown. Enjoy three nights of reside performances with artists such as Samuel James, Dirk Joseph, and Maisie O’Brien. Mark your calendar for the rescheduled fest this spring, set for May 20-22. May Creative Alliance. Times vary. $19-22.

1/7-9: SHEN YUN
A striking slice of ancient Chinese heritage heads to the Hippodrome, featuring lavish imagery, delightful sounds, and classic Chinese dance. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Times vary. $145.

TO 1/9: COLOR AND ILLUSION: THE STILL LIFES OF JUAN GRIS
In the first such U.S. exhibition in 35 years, explore the pioneering art of Spanish Cubist artist Juan Gris through more than 40 paintings and collages. The Baltimore Museum of Art. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

1/9: JEWISH JOURNEYS FROM ETHIOPIA
The Jewish Museum of Maryland’s virtual series, “Shalom World: Judaism Around the Globe,” continues with a glimpse of Ethiopia, led by the country’s Beta Israel descendants. Jewish Museum of Maryland. 10 a.m. $5. 

1/12: CINDERELLA: A BALLET IN TWO ACTS
The State Ballet Theater of Ukraine’s adaptation of this globally loved tale combines the works of Russian Soviet composer Sergei Prokofiev with choreography by Vladimir Vasiliev. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. 7:30 p.m. $56-98.

TO 1/14: RENÉ TREVIÑO: WAXING & WANING
This MICA alum’s portraits of the moon phases and other works inspired by trips to Mexico collide to make one captivating solo exhibition. C. Grimaldis Gallery. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

1/14: GROWN UP FIELD TRIP: GAME ON
Unleash your inner child with heated Mario Kart battles in the science center’s IMAX theater, with adult sips provided by Pherm Brewing Company and giant versions of your favorite tabletop games. Maryland Science Center. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

1/15: ALL STARS OF HIP HOP 2022
For one night only, Royal Farms Arena will host some of hip hop’s most iconic entertainers, including Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, and more. Royal Farms Arena. 7 p.m. $52. 

POSTPONED: CHIFFON, MICAH E. WOOD, MODERN NOMAD & DJ NOT CHARLES
For one winter’s night, a medley of beloved Baltimore musicians will perform on the same epic lineup in Remington. Catch the rescheduled show on February 23. Ottobar. 8 p.m. $10.

1/15: MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY LECTURE FT. LARRY GIBSON
Both in-person and virtual, tune in to the Enoch Pratt as University of Maryland School of Law professor Larry Gibson discusses the profound and irrevocable legacy of Martin Luther King. Enoch Pratt Free Library. 2 p.m.

TO 1/17: INNER HARBOR ICE RINK
Courtesy of Waterfront Partnership, this seasonal downtown landmark—housed atop the Inner Harbor Amphitheater on Pratt St.—returns for another season full of ice skating and winter fun. Waterfront Partnership. Times vary. $4-150. 

TO 1/17: SMALL WORKS – BIG CAUSE
Virtually view and shop a sea of small-scale masterpieces made by local artists in this fundraiser exhibition for Creative Alliance. Creative Alliance. Times & prices vary.

1/22: FIGHTING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AT SPARROWS POINT
Based on the WYPR podcast Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story, this lecture at the Baltimore County Public Library, co-hosted by the Baltimore Museum of Industry, explores how the harborfront neighborhood became a storied backdrop for political change. Baltimore County Public Library. 1 p.m. 

1/22: HARBOR POINT ICE FESTIVAL
Watch in wonder as award-winning ice sculptors create art in Harbor Point’s Central Plaza using chainsaws and chisels. 1310 Point St. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

1/22: WTMD’S SATURDAY MORNING TUNES
The Towson radio station’s family-friendly concerts return indoors, with a special performance at the B&O Museum, plus characters from Disney’s Frozen movies onsite to perform a song or two. B&O Railroad Museum. 10 a.m. 

1/23: DANISH STRING QUARTET
The Grammy-nominated four-piece string group heads to Shriver Hall to perform pieces by the composer Benjamin Britten. Shriver Hall. 5:30 p.m. $10-44.

1/28-2/5: POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
In its 26th year, this annual fundraiser returns to the edge of the Chesapeake Bay with a full week of frigid events for brave participants
at Sandy Point State Park to benefit the Special Olympics. Sandy Point State Park. Times & prices vary. 

TO 1/29: A PASSION FOR COLLECTING: THE VISION OF LOUIS ALLAN FORD
By appointment only, experience the late collector’s passion and rich legacy of cultural pride through the artists he collected, including Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, and Alma Thomas. Galerie Myrtis. Tues.-Sat. 2-6 p.m. 

1/29: VISIBLE MENDING WORKSHOP
Home sewers can follow along as local artist and museum educator Jesse Lentz demonstrates the art of resourcefulness by way of classic clothing repair, such as Sashiko stitching, patching, and embroidery darning. Baltimore Museum of Industry. 10:30 a.m. $20-25. 

TO 3/27: THADDEUS MOSLEY: FOREST
Explore the works of Pittsburgh sculptor Thaddeus Mosley, whose abstract wooden innovations helped to cement the 95-year-old’s status as the “keeper of old trees.” The Baltimore Museum of Art. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

TO 4/3: ALL DUE RESPECT
Projection mapping, woodblock print panels, furniture, and other unconventional mediums are utilized by four local female artists to showcase the beauty behind individuality and the cycles of life. The Baltimore Museum of Art. Wed.- Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

TO 5/8: MICKALENE THOMAS: A MOMENT’S PLEASURE
The BMA’s East Lobby will transform to reflect the lauded New Jersey painter’s trademark essence in a series of displays that are said to be her most expansive commission. The Baltimore Museum of Art. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

TO 6/1: INTIMATE EXPRESSIONS: PERSONAL DIARIES OF MARYLAND LIFE
Viewers can get a glimpse into the lives of people throughout pivotal parts of the state’s history in this showing of personal diaries. Maryland Center for History & Culture. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free-$9.

TO 7/30: LOSING WINTER
Through a range of photographs, this exhibition portrays Marylanders’ re reflections on past winter seasons. As the state’s climate changes, their recollections detail a sense of personal loss. Maryland Center for History & Culture. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free-$9.

TO FALL: THE SCIENCE & MYSTERY OF SLEEP
In AVAM’s third floor gallery exhibition, a compilation of all the latest sleep-related scientific research mingles with three artist-made visionary bedrooms. American Visionary Art Museum. Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$15.95. 

TO 9/4: HEALING AND THE ART OF COMPASSION (AND THE LACK THEREOF!)
Retiring AVAM founder Rebecca Hoffberger curates her last exhibition, where visionary artists explore the symbiotic relationship between the twin powers of healing and compassion. American Visionary Art Museum. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$15.95. 

TO 9/30: FLICKERING TREASURES
In a now-and-then showcase, this exhibit delves into Maryland’s historic movie theaters. Maryland Center for History & Culture. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free-$9. 

TO 9/30: WILD AND UNTAMED: DUNTON’S DISCOVERY OF THE BALTIMORE ALBUM QUILTS
This selection of revered Baltimore album quilts introduces visitors to Dr. William Rush Dunton, known by many as the father of occupational therapy, as well as one of the first inductees to the Quilters Hall of Fame. Maryland Center for History & Culture. Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free-$9.

We traveled to Appalachia to sit inside the last honky-tonk bar in Winchester, Virginia, and took a ride back in time to learn about Maryland’s rich history in music. We were mesmerized by the timeless mystique of mermaids and disheartened by the dire state of the Chesapeake Bay. We got perspective into our city’s history, through stories of the 1968 riots after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the Baltimore Uprising of 2015, and the aftermath of both.

And we did this all through books that were penned by Baltimore authors.

We pored over poetry, novels, art books, children’s books, collected essays, memoirs, and handbooks, all of which provided insight into understanding our world and ourselves. Here are our top picks for the must-read books of the 2018. (Spoiler alert: in the case of Michael Northrup’s book, it’s a must-see.)

I Wrote This Book Because I Love You
Tim Kreider (Simon & Schuster)

It’s no surprise that when he’s not writing for The New York Times, Tim Kreider is also a cartoonist (many in Baltimore may know him for his dark-humor comic strip “The Pain—When Will It End?,” which ran for 12 years in City Paper). The Baltimore native’s second collection of essays is chock full of laugh-out-loud moments, mostly at his own expense, as he puts his love life on display with stark honesty. Like the time he briefly dated a prostitute (er, fetish model), or when he followed a girl to the circus and posed as her husband, or when he tracked down the psychologist who tested him as a child for the renowned Strange Situation study that’s used to predict attachment issues into adulthood. All the while, he’s discovered a thing or two. Kreider isn’t solely a humorist—he’s also part philosopher, part psychologist, part poet. Paired with his depth of insight into the human condition and startlingly sharp observations, this intimate collection is as hilarious as it is poignant, as it explores what it means to love and be loved—even if it’s love shared with your 19-year-old cat.

Hummingbirds in the Trenches
Kondwani Fidel (self-published)

Kondwani Fidel’s raw, brutal, and unabashedly honest account of growing up in Baltimore and losing family and friends to murder, drugs, and gang violence is painful to read but also refreshing, uncompromising in its integrity to tell the truth as he sees it. There’s a sensitivity and a fire to the voice of this 25 year old, who has already traveled the country and world to give lectures and readings. His new collection of memoir-esque essays, one-liners, conversation excerpts, and rhythmic poetry—referred to as “The Tracklist” in the table of contents—encompasses the writer’s ruminations and research. Here, he reflects on the repercussions of slavery and systemic racism in America: the toxic lead paint study on black youth; kids suffering in public schools without air conditioning or heat; and general poverty, depression (including his own), suicide, drugs, and blood on the streets of East Baltimore. If you’re not aware of what growing up in a rough neighborhood is like—what it’s like to be a hummingbird in the trenches—this book will pry your eyes wide open.

Clock Dance
Anne Tyler (Knoff)

In Anne Tyler’s latest novel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Baltimore author explores the passage of time and how pivotal moments come to define us. In blocks of narrative that skip ahead 10 to 20 years at a time, she tells the story of a rather ordinary character, Willa Drake, whom we meet as a daughter, wife, and mother of adult children who longs to be a grandmother. We see her through love and loss, from childhood into retirement—and we watch as she evolves (albeit slowly). It’s Tyler’s graceful prose and solid narrative, peppered with her subtle sense of humor, that makes this book a joy to read. Whether it’s Willa’s straight-and-narrow, slightly miserable second husband; her sardonic little sister; or the badass, motorcycle-riding neighbor in leather pants, these characters come to life off the page, another one of Tyler’s gifts.

Dream Away
Michael E. Northrup (Stanley/Barker)

In this limited-edition art book, Baltimore’s Michael E. Northrup presents a series of 66 photographs of his now ex-wife that revolve around femininity, revealing the girl in the woman and the woman in the girl. These portraits also serve as a love story and an intimate look into the photographer’s own life. “As for the subject matter, we met in 1976, married in 1978, and divorced 1988,” Northrup says succinctly. We see her life—and body—change as she goes from lover to mother, from casually smoking cigarettes and skinny dipping to donning a bare-bummed baby over her shoulder and modeling breast pumps. Black-and-white images are juxtaposed with color, giving a sense of reflection on past times. With Northrup’s imaginative experiments with shadow, strategically placed objects, and curated poses, the moments-in-time feel of a family album is elevated to fine art.

Liza Jane & the Dragon
Laura Lippman (Black Sheep/Akashic Books)

The New York Times best-selling author Laura Lippman’s foray into the arena of children’s literature is delightful and yet manages to maintain the author’s quirky sense of humor. In this tale, a little girl named Liza Jane fires her parents and hires a dragon to take their place . . . until she realizes the dragon has only one tactic for solving problems: breathing fire. Late to school? Set the secretary’s desk on fire. Pizza delivery man got delayed? A fiery blast to his car. The picture book is illustrated by Maryland painter Kate Samworth, who brings the characters to life and gives us visual clues for reading this story in a broader context. While this story is a fun romp through what might be the occasional daydream of many children, it also serves as a political allegory. The dragon has a familiar blond mane that swoops between his two horns.

Before and After Loss: A Neurologist’s Perspective on Loss, Grief and Our Brain
Lisa M. Shulman, MD (Johns Hopkins University Press)

This poetic and insightful, if heartbreaking, memoir from neurologist Lisa M. Schulman stems from her own bereavement of her late husband, Bill Weiner, former chair of neurology at the University of Maryland, as she chronicles his diagnosis and eventual succumbing to cancer. His journal entries, her recorded dreams, and photos of meals they shared add a personal touch to the book that illustrates their love for one another, while interspersed quotes from philosophers, mystics, poets, and psychotherapists offer wisdom on death, dying, and grieving. Combined with the latest scientific studies in traumatic brain injury and holistic approaches to healing, Schulman has created a unique book that touches on all aspects of the process of grieving—the psychological, physiological, and overlap between neurology and psychiatry. Ultimately, Shulman points out that whether brain injury is caused by physical or emotional trauma, it results in similar long-term effects—and also that post-traumatic stress can become post-traumatic growth, with the right tools. In short, it could prove to be an invaluable aid to counselors, psychotherapists, and medical doctors, as well as anyone moving through grief toward wholeness.

A Memory of the Future
Elizabeth Spires (W.W. Norton & Company)

In this new poetry collection, Spires seems to channel Rumi or Buddha or both. The poems feel like prayers, and in some cases koans—each unique but all with a timeless, spiritual quality. To say they’re Zen-like would be both literal and figurative; references to Zen Buddhism are strewn throughout Spires’ work, and her verses unfold like meditations. The Goucher College professor of English possesses the rare gift to present lovely, solemn passages with a light touch and deft use of metaphor while simultaneously feeding her readers profound and heady truths. These little nuggets of wisdom come like offerings placed on an altar, quietly, with grace and intention.

Homeplace
John Lingan (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Homeplace is an honest, bittersweet, and at times humorous look at small-town America through the lens of Winchester, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. Lingan, who grew up in Catonsville and has written for Oxford American and New York Times Magazine, examines Patsy Cline’s hometown and its longtime resident Jim McCoy, the honky-tonk owner who discovered her (and who continued to smoke, drink, and make music well into his 80s). What we ultimately see is a town in the midst of an identity crisis—from a slow-paced, Southern area known for its apple production to a burgeoning suburb of new establishments that have attracted an influx of urbanites from Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. But the book also feels like a travelogue at times—clearly the observations of an out-of-towner with a voice of his own. His four years of researching and writing it is evident, as he reveals the town’s (and neighboring towns’) quirks while bringing into focus a broader, nostalgic story of a vanishing way of life, as factory farms, opioids, big-box stores, and even music streaming services swallow up what once was.

The Chesapeake in Focus: Transforming the Natural World
Tom Pelton (Johns Hopkins University Press)

Pelton, one the country’s leading environmental journalists, offers us a wealth of knowledge about the Chesapeake Bay, collected from his more than two decades of reporting on this ecological, cultural, and historical treasure (you may also know him from his show Environment in Focus on WYPR). His book is part history of the bay’s watershed region, part political history of its preservation, and, to a lesser extent, part personal history, as Pelton draws gorgeous imagery of scenes he’s experienced as an avid kayaker on the bay’s waters and tributaries. In total, he paints a compelling portrait of what it is he wants to preserve. Divided into four sections (The Waters, The People, The Wildlife, and The Policies), the book covers a lot of ground, from Baltimore’s sewage issues to the over-harvesting of wild oysters. The highlight, perhaps, comes toward the end, when Pelton proposes 10 realistic steps for bay restoration. We should listen to him.

Hummingbirds in the Trenches

Kondwani Fidel (self-published)

Kondwani Fidel’s raw, brutal, and unabashedly honest account of growing up in Baltimore and losing family and friends to murder, drugs, and gang violence is painful to read but also refreshing, uncompromising in its integrity to tell the truth as he sees it. There’s a sensitivity and a fire to the voice of this 25-year-old, who has already traveled the country and world to give lectures and readings. His new collection of memoir-esque essays, one-liners, conversation excerpts, and rhythmic poetry—referred to as “The Tracklist” in the table of contents—encompasses the writer’s ruminations and research. Here, he reflects on the repercussions of slavery and systemic racism in America: the toxic lead paint study on black youth; kids suffering in public schools without air conditioning or heat; and general poverty, depression (including his own), suicide, drugs, and blood on the streets of East Baltimore. If you’re not aware of what growing up in a rough neighborhood is like—what it’s like to be a hummingbird in the trenches—this book will pry your eyes wide open.

Read our full interview with writer Kondwani Fidel.

The Baltimore Book of the Dead

Marion Winik (Counterpoint)

Rarely does the subject of death feel so light and playful as it does in this collection of prose poem elegies by Baltimore writer and longtime All Things Considered commentator Marion Winik. To be clear, the title is somewhat misleading; this is not a historical account of people who have lived and/or died in Baltimore but rather a collection that honors the lives of the people who stayed on Winik’s mind over the years—from David Bowie to close family members and friends, many of whom do have ties to our city. In this sequel-of-sorts to her 2008 book The Glen Rock Book of the Dead, Winik pays her respects not in a traditional format, like you might find in a eulogy, but through levity, idiosyncrasies, and crisp scenes of the people who shaped her. Each piece is a remembrance that celebrates who they were and what they left behind, if only in the selective, and sometimes random, memories of those who knew them.

Of all birds, why did you choose the hummingbird for your canary in the coal mine analogy?
I was like, what would be the most awkward bird that you could find in my neighborhood? A hummingbird. And they sing songs, and I believe that everybody has a song to sing, everybody has a story to tell, but because of the obstacles and oppression that people are trapped under, they don’t get a chance to sing those songs. They don’t even get to see the beauty in themselves. Canaries aren’t supposed to be in mines, just like hummingbirds aren’t supposed to be in trenches. But we live with these conditions every day. The places we’re living in, the places we get food, the schools we attend—we’re not supposed to be there.

You talk about hummingbirds who find a path out, and you seem to be one of them. How did it happen in your life?
If there’s a plan to keep the poor poor and the oppressed oppressed, some people do end up slipping through the cracks. People ask me all the time, ‘What makes you different? How did you get out?’ I’m not special. I am them, and they are me. I just happened to stumble upon some opportunities and some resources that I utilized and ended up here. That was luck, or whatever you want to call it—luck, God, the Universe, Allah—it was all outside factors that played into me rising out of these tough situations mentally and physically.

I didn’t have no ambition to go to college. I just stumbled across some opportunities that aren’t afforded to everyone in my neighborhood. I had to beg my grandma to sign a Parent PLUS Loan. I ended up going to Virginia State University to study sport management. I was in English 101 or something my freshman year, and it was the first time I started reading Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes . . . and in my spare time, I’m reading rap lyrics, Amy Winehouse, and other writers and singers and rappers, and I found myself falling in love with reading. I would legit skip class to read books and articles and the dictionary. And then I fell in love with writing, too. And it changed my life tremendously.

I don’t really even have words for it. I started having my own thoughts, I started relearning things, throwing away some bull— that people taught me and started coming up with my own ideas. I became a critical thinker. Now I can maneuver any tough situation, whereas someone else might make this mistake because they’re not thinking critically and there’s always someone else thinking for them or telling them what they should do, should like, should hate. I can make these decisions on my own. In a nutshell, that’s what it was.

The book is set up like an album, with a track list. Is that a reference to hip-hop or rap you hear on the streets?
I was heavily influenced by hip-hop when I started writing. I believe it’s the best genre of music, the most intricate genre, and I like to emulate that in my work. Rap music raised me. When I didn’t have anybody to talk to, I could listen to certain artists, and they’d help me get through tough situations. I tried to pay homage to that in a sense. Some of my favorite poets are rappers, like Tupac, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill.

Do people ever tell you that you look like Tupac?
Yeah, I get that.

How does hip-hop inform your voice and style in your essays?
I don’t hold back punches because in the rap music that I listen to, they don’t hold back any punches. They say exactly how they feel, exactly what they’re going through—whether it’s feelings of suicide or having thoughts of killing someone else. They’re saying, “F— the police,” not “we dislike cops.” They don’t say, “My mother was suffering drug abuse.” They say, “She was shooting crack in her neck.”

Why did you decide to self-publish?
I was just fascinated with the idea of having something physical that can stay on this Earth for years after you’re dead and gone. So I released my first book, Asperous Artistry, in 2015. I didn’t know anything about the publishing world. I didn’t want to have to wait on anybody—waiting for them to review my [stuff], waiting for them to send an ‘okay’ email like, ‘Yeah, we gonna rock out’ or whatever. We live in the age of social media, so I can really rock out on my own. Then I self-published Raw Wounds, and I saw the success that that got and the people who backed it, how many schools and universities it was taught in. Being on TV with a self-published book—that fueled me more than anything.

Baltimore educator Valencia D. Clay comments in the foreword that you wrote this for the hummingbirds who haven’t found a path out yet.
I could tell stories about anything. Me telling these stories is to let people in my neighborhood see the beauty in who we are. I can travel to London and share stories and experiences, and it gives them hope when they see me speaking about them and immortalizing the neighborhoods we come from.

Do you think you’ll stay in Baltimore all your life?
I want my crib to be here. This is where I always want my home to be. I could run off and go somewhere else, but it’s not going to erase the pain of what’s happening here. I’m spiritually, emotionally, and mentally connected to this place. If I’m sitting 80 stories up in Paris somewhere, drinking gentrified cocktails, getting phone calls from friends and family who are still getting thrown in prison and getting murdered, that’s not gonna erase none of that. So it’s like, run for what? As you get older, you realize everybody run. Everybody dip. And the energy’s not here—that positive energy, those resources. We can be prominent figures in the world and stay in Baltimore—be here so we can do school visits and have real relationships with people.

Catch Kondwani Fidel at two performances on Sunday, September 30, at The Baltimore Book Festival at the Inner Harbor. First, at 2 p.m. at CityLit Stage in Patricia Smith & A Bunch of Incendiary Poets Poeting, reading alongside Gayle Danley, Dora Malech, Lady Brion, Keegan Cook Finberg, and others; then at 3 p.m. at the Radical Bookfair Pavilion, presenting Hummingbirds in the Trenches. He will also be a panelist at the NAMI Metro Baltimore 35th Anniversary at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 27, at Baltimore Center Stage.

Remy Sneakers vs. the Robo-Rats

By Kevin Sherry (Scholastic Press)

If you’re in need of a yarn to delight and entertain (and perhaps serve as a distraction from the tumultuous world news), Kevin Sherry’s book is for you. Yes, it is an illustrated chapter book written for children, but no, that does not mean adults can’t enjoy its simple, fun storyline and wonderfully engrossing illustrations. Sherry—an author and illustrator who lives in Baltimore and attended the Maryland Institute College of Art—tells the story of Remy Sneakers, a foraging raccoon known for his vast collection of odds and ends. When he is mistakenly identified as the robber of a museum, he works to clear his name with the help of his animal friends. That message of togetherness is one we could all stand to hear again and again.

Raw Wounds

By Kondwani Fidel (self-published)

Sometimes, to understand a writer’s work, you must understand his or her beginnings. In his first book, Kondwani Fidel, the socially motivated spoken word poet and Baltimore native who has been featured in The Huffington Post and The Root, tells us his story. In this chronicle that is part memoir, part essay on race, and part poetry collection, Fidel bares his soul to show the scars sustained from the cop raids, absent parents, and bloodshed that made up his East Baltimore childhood. His honest, haunting style is reminiscent of another East Baltimore author, D. Watkins (who fittingly praises the book on its cover). It’s exciting to see another voice emerge from a community that has too long been silenced.