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L. B.'s newest book, No Sense in Wishing, combines the personal with the societal in a autobiography that serves as a homage to his hometown. This volume examines the artistic and cultural forces that formed his journey, intertwining collectively themes of kinship, fatherhood, and institutional challenges.

The Politicized Lens on the City

The author notes that the city has long been viewed through a political lens and racialized. He recalls his early essays on law enforcement violence, inspired by the Freddie Gray case and his own family experiences. As time passed, his method shifted to a increasingly historical viewpoint, analyzing Baltimore's history of division and discriminatory housing policies.

Baltimore has arguably the worst public relations of any city in the United States.

He argues that despite social problems, the urban reputation is often misrepresented by news reporting. Exceptional creative work and musical talent arise from Baltimore, yet these contributions frequently go unnoticed by wider audiences.

Elevating Community Artists

Through his zine True Laurels, the writer sought to showcase Baltimore artists frequently overlooked by mainstream media. A significant story involved a musician called the artist, who encountered reportedly police harassment. While Burney's investigation, the officers involved were indicted with federal offenses, exposing systemic misconduct.

• The situation exemplified discriminatory and class-based policing.
• Burney stressed that not all African American neighborhoods face the identical degree of surveillance.

Emotional Range and Personal Insight

This book balances devastating experiences with humorous elements, reflecting the complex essence of human experience. Burney focused on evoking affective responses in readers, believing that emotion outweighs craft-based skill in art.

He shared how musicians like the rapper deeply impacted his life, questioning perceptions of manhood and identity.

Openness and Personal Growth

Writing about private subjects—such as going to church, childcare, and being a parent—required considerable vulnerability. Burney admitted that addressing his experience as a parent and the choice to pursue a career opportunity in another location was especially difficult.

Talking about those emotions wasn't easy. The chapter probably took me three months to even crank out a first draft.

International Connections

The memoir also covers his journeys to Johannesburg and Lagos, drawing parallels between Baltimore and different worldwide urban centers. He suggests that the city acts as a microcosm of broader societal dynamics, such as economic conflict and racial division.

In the end, Burney offers the city as a introduction to grasping complicated societal structures not only in the U.S., but across the global stage.