A Young Leader in Baltimore | The New York Times

Melech E. M. Thomas:
The color that is inflicting trauma on

people of color in urban neighborhoods

is not white, necessarily and
it's not black ... it's blue

so you can't expect for you to slap
people around the face politically,

socially, economically and expect us
to sing "God Bless America"

Title: "A Young Leader in Baltimore"

It's kind of surreal. I don't even
recognise where I'm standing.

I mean, I used to, when I was working,
I would come here and get snacks and stuff

and now, you know, we're walking
through ... What's up bro?

>> Crazy

THOMAS: We're walking through a mess ...
It's crazy right.

SPEAKER: Baltimore, what's happening
right now is our fault.

THOMAS: I identify with that rage.
I may check it in a different way but

if you were to ask the Melech Thomas from
2004, 2005 - it might have been different,

I might have been out there on the streets.

What's up man?
So good to see you Doc.

How long you been out it standing
in front of the college?

>> I got it here like two hours ago
THOMAS: Oh ... for real!

That's cool man.

[CROWD CHANT]

THOMAS: We love Baltimore.
We want peace.

One of the beauties of Baltimore City
is that Baltimore has had a lot of pastors

and a lot of leaders who have been leading
with power and integrity for some years.

SPEAKER: We need a miracle tonight and
because you are a miracle ...

THOMAS: My hope is that we shift the
energy of these young sisters and brothers.

I mean, these young people can
change the city

even without the major pastors,
even without the major politicians

these young persons can go
into their own neighborhoods

with that same mind of strategy.

>> Call me in the name of Jesus, I just
want to uplift these two men to you father

THOMAS: I've just been trying
to do what I can

even outside of the tangible
things to help restore hope;

We started making sandwiches because
there're some kids in the

Baltimore City Public School system
that the only meal they get

is the meal that they get in school.

- No problem, you got your sandwich?

I just want us to continue
to focus on the larger picture

because I think all of this noise
and all of this drama

makes for good TV but the central issue
is the mistreatment of African people.

CROWD: I love Baltimore, we want peace.
THOMAS: Wow!

CROWD CHANTS:
We love Baltimore; we want peace