(BALTIMORE – January 17, 2026) – Upon hearing the news, it took at least a day to find some calm. My spirit was vexed indeed. I was thumbing through my contacts, wondering who would hear my pleas for help. “Don’t allow this school to close,” I texted fervently. My soul was enraged. All I could think to do was pray. And text. And pray. And text again.
The Governor said he was trying to respect the boundaries, for surely this is a test of the will of the people. Yes, we once had Bluford Drew-Jemison School where our boys could feel safe. Then we get Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys. And now, Dr. Sonja Santelises thinks it best to close this school. After all, she’s leaving and she has no sons in our schools.
“Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do,” sings Lauryn Hill, as the mis-education of multiple generations goes on display in real time. Where is our remembrance of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray? We are setting up yet another generation of Black males to land on cell blocks with seasoned criminals, where the options include this gang or that gang. Way to go, Dr. Santelises! Way to encourage our Black families in Baltimore, a city that is not your home. Baltimore is far from Peabody, Massachusetts. We couldn’t possibly expect the Andres Alonso prototype to understand Baltimore’s people, our culture, our needs. I cannot forgive a man who removed 75% of the principals. Who dismisses 75% of its senior leadership? Those were the people who taught generations of Black children in Baltimore. This told them they were no longer good enough. These same educators sent us to Harvard and Morehouse and yes, Dr. Santelises, even Brown and Columbia…