Went down town Baltimore today. The buildings were great, the hive of activity was bustling, and I saw the biigest Barnes and Noble bookstore I'd ever seen. Downtown Baltimore means being next to the Harbour, a spectacular assortment of commerce and tourism. After buying a new book I decided to explore the city. Shops, offices, food places, all neatly wrapped around a stunning skyline. Then suddenly I stumbled across a beautiful but daunting building, the court house. Reporters lined the steps, and a strike force of custody officers waited to escort those just sentenced to prison. Then there it was, a large White van filled with about a dozen African Amercan men, being driven away. I felt sad. Making my way back to the waterfront I saw a few people begging, lying on the floor, and those huddled in shop doorways. The contrast between rich, poor, black, white is stark. You can almost miss it if you don't look hard enough. I paused for a moment to reflect on what I'd just seen and then ventured into the biggest African American musuem in Baltimore. I didn't know whether it was a lesson from history or a history lesson. Whatever it was, the small amount of people trawling around this beautiful building would suggest it's more of a tourist attraction, as opposed to a place to learn about not repeating mistakes of the past. Once again another challenging day. In saying that I had a light bulb moment and have started the development of a parents resource that I will be wanting to bring to fruition on my return. My Baltimore mentor David, keeps pushing me on the issue of social concern combined with business, as a viable way of addressing issues ethically, combined with making some money. Another powerful day.
Peace
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