"Every time I feel a hint of emptiness, I fill it with hope."
In Hummingbirds in The Trenches, Kondwani Fidel digests the
circumstances of every day living in Baltimore. His honest
recollection of growing up in his city--one plagued by poverty,
inadequate schools, and violent murders--is a must read till the end.
Fidel skillfully guides readers down a narrow line--his vulnerability
on one side, his deafening power on the other. In the end, Fidel
emerges a victor--overtly aware of the ironclad, historical systemic
racism that continues to confine his community, yet still a hopeful,
suggestive voice with a strong belief in change. His essays will make
you cry tears of anger, but also tears of light-hearted laughter.
-- Stephanie Wash,
Emmy Award Winning Producer and ABC News Journalist