Letter from the editor – Issue 77
Welcome to our Love and Sex issue. In these pages, we use storytelling to explore how expansive the ideas of love and sex can be. Emma Akpan writes about the Abortion Fund of Maryland, which was formerly known as the Baltimore Abortion Fund. Organizers there changed the name to more accurately capture how expansive their work is, especially post-Roe v. Wade. “Abortion seekers need a place to go and people to talk to for resources without interrogation, without shame, and with care, and AFM provides it,” Akpan writes. MacKenzie River Foy chronicles what it’s like trying to make…
News
The life of Baltimore’s midnight ballerinas
The story of The Block has always been a labor story. But amidst an economy stretched thin by unemployment, the rising cost of living, and a decline in alcohol consumption and in-person gatherings, there are problems that organizing and collective bargaining may not be able to fix.
‘Remember me as you saw me’: Ursula Ricks, a Baltimore blues gem, insists
As her health declines, the singer says she wants to be remembered for her voice, the thing that saved her.
The Abortion Fund of Maryland prioritizes dignity and empathy for people seeking abortion in Maryland and out of state
As reproductive rights are under threat around the country, the Abortion Fund of Maryland provides assistance and privacy.
Red-light districts, Gamblers’ Row, Prohibition, and segregation: A brief history of The Block’s early years
Right in the heart of the city, surrounded by City Hall, BPD headquarters, courthouses, and the Inner Harbor, The Block may be diminished, but it has, against all odds and obstacles, persisted.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has cleared cops of wrongdoing in 95% of police-involved death cases his office is responsible for investigating
Anthony Brown’s office declined to bring charges against any of the 10 officers who stood around as Dontae Melton died in June 2025, the 37th out of 39 cases evaluated by the office which cleared cops of wrongdoing.
Photostory: Five years of ‘West Baltimore Ruins’
“West Baltimore Ruins” has multiple purposes. It serves as a blueprint of the city before and during major shifts. It serves as nostalgia for West Baltimore residents who spent their lives on this side of town at some point of time.
How Baltimore organizers are preparing to fight back against ICE
For months, anticipating a heightened ICE presence in the city, Baltimore activists and immigrant rights groups have been quietly building local capacity to respond.
Arts & Culture
Tom Miller’s work is Black history, queer history, art history, and Baltimore history
Tom Miller is a quintessential Baltimore artist. His use of bright colors, mythical motifs, and inventive techniques feel like something that can only come from an artist from this city.
A journey through grief: HH Hiaasen asks how Baltimoreans would complete the day of loved ones lost to gun violence
HH Hiaasen has turned these wishes and dreams of days painfully cut short into an art exhibit in the South Gallery of Baltimore’s City Hall, which is filled with nearly 3,000 notes that do more than just commemorate those who lost their lives or survived the violence.
Best Beats Issue #077 – Love and Sex
Best Beats highlights some of the best local music that has caught the attention of Baltimore Beat’s staff.
The old and new come together in community theater at Arena Players
Community theaters like Arena Players facilitate community building, providing people with space to try new and brave things, to further develop their sense of self, and to step out of their comfort zones.
Labor of Love: These Baltimore couples mixed business with pleasure and came out on top
From trendy thrift stores to savory brunch spots, these local businesses are marrying relationships with business ventures and thriving because of it.
‘Rye Lane’ is an underseen rom-com gem
This 2023 film is just as much about a love for South London as it is the love between its two leads.
February 2026 Tarotscopes
Find out what’s in store for you this February with Iya Osundara’s Tarotscope forecast. Take what resonates and leave the rest.
OP-ED: Faith leaders must fight for future of reparations
“I encourage all of my brothers and sisters in faith to join me in advocating for the advancement of reparations through the lens of faith,” writes Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III.
Black Crossword Puzzle: January 28, 2026
Black Crossword is a free mini crossword puzzle that places emphasis on terms and clues from across the Black diaspora.
Baltimore Government and Community Events 2/11/26 – 2/25/26
Here’s our list of government and community events around the city.
Baltimore Arts and Culture Events 2/11/26 – 2/25/26
Here’s our list of arts and culture events around the city.
Community Resources
This Baltimore Beat section aims to help the community with resources and support they may not know are…
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