The latest from Mark Williams
Commentary: Duke Ellington’s lasting impressions on Baltimore
Duke Ellington added to his legacy as an artist and a cultural figure when he appeared in Baltimore.
Commentary: How a soul music purist got hooked on neo-soul, too
Seeing Tony! Toni! Toné! and then Goapele live in concert in Baltimore, just months apart, means a lifelong soul music lover is now hooked on what has become known as “neo-soul.”
Commentary: James W.C. Pennington couldn’t be dehumanized or deterred
The life of abolitionist, clergyman and historian James W.C. Pennington, the first Black person to study at Yale, began in enslavement in Maryland.
Commentary: Charles Osgood remembered what he loved about Baltimore
Charles Osgood recalled his Baltimore upbringing as giving him so much that he loved.
Commentary: Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man; he’s not a deity
Learning about Martin Luther King as a man and not only as an icon adds to our understanding of his contributions and legacy.
Commentary: Andre Braugher made himself part of Baltimore
The actor, who lived in Baltimore as “Homicide: Life on the Streets” was filmed in the city, made an impact that went beyond his memorable portrayal of Baltimore Police Detective Frank Pembleton.
Commentary: Baltimore saw “Shaft” before almost anyplace else
Actor Richard Roundtree, who died Tuesday at age 81, created the iconic film character John Shaft, who redefined Black male characterization in movies and across popular culture.
Commentary: When it comes to Billie Holiday, we still have a lot to learn
Familiar portrayals of traumatic and tragic elements of Billie Holiday’s life can miss the point of her story: Eleanora Fagan from Baltimore had a singular voice and a lasting musical and cultural impact.
Commentary: How a conversation on a train turned into a song about Baltimore
An acclaimed musician and composer traveled 8,980 miles aboard six trains through 31 states. He spoke with as many as 80 strangers and turned the conversations into songs, including one about Baltimore.
The best places for a post-dinner walk in Baltimore
Baltimore offers quite a few nice settings for couples on a date to take a walk together or sit for a chat outdoors to keep the romance going - or get it started.
Commentary: Remembering the contributions of the Left Bank Jazz Society
Left Bank Jazz Society founding member John Fowler has held on to treasured recordings of concerts at the Famous Ballroom on Charles Street. He’s kept alive the memories of Baltimore audiences enjoying artists ranging from Duke Ellington and Count Basie to Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Sun Ra.
Commentary: Let’s give the Isley Brothers the appreciation they deserve
The Isley Brothers, who will headline Baltimore’s AFRAM cultural and music festival Sunday, have shaped popular music for three generations, resonating with audiences and influencing countless rock, soul, and hip-hop artists along the way, Banner Opinion Editor Mark Williams says.
Commentary: Willie Simms made history at the Preakness 125 years ago
This year's Preakness marks 125 years since Willie Simms, one of the most successful riders of his time and one of the first to adopt the modern rider position and technique, won the race and became the only Black jockey to win all three Triple Crown events.
Commentary: What catching muskrats as a child taught Harriet Tubman
Childhood depiction with muskrat offers glimpse of her survival during enslavement
Commentary: Wes Moore seized this moment in history to become governor
Wes Moore's landslide election victory demonstrates that Marylanders view him as the right man to lead the state at this moment in history. He carries that broad support into office along with high hopes that his vision for the state and plans to build consensus will be realized.
Commentary: Roger Taney, Thurgood Marshall and why history, symbols matter
Americans have moved in recent years to re-examine how the nation's identity has been shaped by its history of slavery and racial discrimination. That kind of reckoning was again evident as President Biden signed a bill to remove a bust of Roger Taney from the U.S. Capitol and replace it with one of Thurgood Marshall.
Photo captured King’s Baltimore visit amid great triumphs, unrelenting challenges
A memorable photograph captures Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1964 visit to Baltimore a short time after he was announced as winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. It was a time of national turmoil and transformation, and King was confronting profound challenges from outside and inside the civil rights movement.
Commentary: The Great Migration re-created Baltimore as migrants’ traditions endured
Individual stories and a Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition reflect how Black Americans who moved to places such as Baltimore during the Great Migration valued and held on to their Southern traditions and memories.
Meet The Banner’s new opinion editor
Baltimore Banner readers can expect a broad range of perspectives in its opinion pieces. The Banner will seek to ensure that communities and institutions across our region have their say through the voices that best represent them.