A Beautiful Ghetto

America is in crisis. I'm sure those headlines rang across Baltimore, MD, a city I know very well. But that crisis has not ended, It has evolved and through that metamorphosis seeks to undermine the ideals we are supposed to represent. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. What a sham...This book, while in essence a collection of B&W analog photography during the Freddie Gray riots, is a poignant reminder that we have stagnated as a nation. America is feeling the same ugliness again and again with increased apathy. I fear it will be longer still until something is done to change it. I implore you to look at this book with the eyes of 2020. I can promise that it will be the same as looking with the eyes of 2015. Will that truth be the same in another 5 years? When is it enough? When do we demand more from a society that is supposedly founded on justice and freedom?The reality of the American dream is that it is a dream, obtainable only by those who would sell themselves for it and crush those who would seek equality over indulgence. This book is, to wrap this up and get over myself, a reminder of how terrible this nation and how far it has fallen. But more importantly, the book is a reminder of community. How, despite the hardships, the people stand united towards a just cause. I pray the yoke that pushes them down is not long for this world.-JD Mraz

This is my home and it’s incredible to see local events immortalized in this book! Get to know Baltimore! It’s rich in culture and communities!

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I waited months to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint. Devin Allen's "A Beautiful Ghetto," summons the soul of Baltimore in it's perfect dichotomy. You feel it's strength and it's weakness, it's pain and it's resiliency. I love the way Allen structures the book wherein you feel like you are taking a walking tour with him of his neighborhood. The first section is the people of the neighborhood and the second is the uprising following the death of Freddie Gray--the calm and the chaos. The poems interspersed by Tariq Touré did the perfect job of lyrically illustrating the source of some of the pain. This book truly is masterful in tackling a complex city like Baltimore and the complex issue of race relations, and turning it into something so so beautiful.

Devin Allen's iconic photo of the Baltimore Uprising wasn't intended that way. He didn't know he'd be in that moment, that his Instagram post would catch the attention of TIME Magazine, and that he'd end up the de facto documentarian of that fateful week in his city. He has grown and flourished since that time; this collection of his black+white work is a necessary addition to anyone's Baltimore, photography, or activist bookshelf.

Devin Allen’s photographs capture the beauty and resilience of Baltimore’s people. He portrayed the events around Freddie Gray’s murder and the uprising with the compassion and understanding that only an insider could have. I love my city and was active in the uprising. The national media that barraged our city in the Spring of 2015 did little more than provoke activists and residents with its crude portrayal. Admist the poverty and legacy of racist policies, Baltimore is full of beauty and Devin Allen captures that. I know he is famous now but I hope he continues to use Baltimore as his subject.

I preordered ordered this book after reading about it in NY Times. It took a while to receive but well worth the wait! This is definitely a coffee table book in our home. I was emotionally engaged with every picture. And I see something different every time I share it with guests. Mr. Allen is talented with a gift for telling the story through his lense. I’m now encouraged to do the same....

A very nice photo book. Very talented young man

Not only is this a beautifully raw piece of artwork, it’s also a unique insight and education into a time and place not shown by mainstream media. The commentary given by Allen’s friends and family sits perfectly alongside the visual story that each photograph tells.It’s also been a great book to share with my teenage son who is developing a love of photography. I look forward to more of Devin Allen’s work in future.