Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore

by Lawrence Jackson

A stirring consideration of homeownership, fatherhood, race, faith, and the history of an American city

In 2016, Lawrence Jackson accepted a new job in Baltimore, searched for schools for his sons, and bought a house. It would all be unremarkable but for the fact that he had grown up in West Baltimore and now found himself teaching at Johns Hopkins, whose vexed relationship to its neighborhood, to the city and its history, provides fodder for this captivating memoir in essays.

With sardonic wit, Jackson describes his struggle to make a home in the city that had just been convulsed by the uprising that followed the murder of Freddie Gray. His new neighborhood, Homeland—largely White, built on racial covenants—is not where he is “supposed” to live. But his purchase, and his desire to pass some inheritance on to his children, provides a foundation for him to explore his personal and spiritual history, as well as Baltimore’s untold stories. Each chapter is a new exploration: a trip to the Maryland shore is an occasion to dilate on Frederick Douglass’s complicated legacy, an encounter at a Hopkins shuttle-bus stop becomes a meditation on public transportation and policing, and Jackson’s beleaguered commitment to his church opens a pathway to reimagine an urban community through jazz.

Shelter is an extraordinary biography of a city and a celebration of our capacity for domestic thriving. Jackson’s story leans on the essay to contain the raging absurdity of Black American life, establishing him as a maverick, essential writer.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography Memoir, Essays, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2022

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of detail about Baltimore neighborhoods and African American history, particularly of the Eastern Shore and the life of Frederick Douglass, but far too many digressions. A blending of historical research and memoir, the structure, or lack of it, and arcane voice confused this reader. An editor would have clarified the narrative. Still, as someone born and raised in Baltimore, I could recognize so many of the truths in this book, and I learned a great deal about communities’ pasts and present status.

[Carole Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is a book of essays about growing up in Baltimore. I know the mother of the author. The author teaches at Johns Hopkins University. It is his take on Baltimore from growing up, to marrying, leaving, and returning to rear his 2 boys. The section that most interested me most was about our home church, St. James' Episcopal Church. St. James is the second oldest, Afro-American Episcopal Church in the U.S. behind St. Phillips in NYC.
I think that the author "wandered" off the topics in each essay. I also think that he didn't "explain" different topics well enough. It's one thing if you're from Baltimore, but everyone isn't. There are a lot of personal references that may or may not interest anyone but the author.

[Ell, Ess Jaeva · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf-get a better editor, invest in plain language

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

pretentious, presumptuous, and verbose

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well-written book. Will probably tour the churches, etc and will definitely ride the free JHU shuttle. I’d love to break bread with the Prof.

[Elizabeth Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I listened to, and now I want to get all of his books and listen to them. This is both academic and wildly personal and intimate. I loved every word.

[Marypeitz peitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the descriptions of Baltimore and the eastern shore and the history but could have done with less of the house update descriptions

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

… lol

[Debi Krulak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is set in a neighborhood adjacent to mine, but in a Baltimore I am only just getting to know.

[Sarah Deacon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memoir and history; overly wordy but with occasional shards of beautiful language. Loved learning more about Baltimore.

[Shari]

DNF. Extremely stilted voice and insider commentary made this an extremely dry read. I had high hopes. Sigh.

[Theodore Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was an editor not available? I compulsively finish books when I start them, but I just couldn't with this one - I made it half way through this windbaggery.