Albert Phillips: "Where You From?"

Where You From? Tales of Sandtown is a poignant collection of essays that captures the essence of growing up in Sandtown-Winchester, one of Baltimore’s most storied and complex neighborhoods, during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Through the eyes of a young boy coming of age, these essays chronicle the challenges, joys, and bittersweet truths of life in a community shaped by systemic inequality, deep cultural roots, and unyielding resilience. From playing a hood version of Pokémon and trying to impress neighborhood girls, to staring down the barrel of a police officer's gun, to watching a friend's house engulfed in flames on the evening news, each piece offers an intimate portrait of navigating identity, dreams, youth, and survival in a city that gave as much as it took.

With raw honesty and lyrical storytelling, Where You From? invites readers to witness the beauty and complexity of a community often misrepresented or forgotten, highlighting its humanity while grappling with its struggles. This is a Baltimore boy’s love letter to Sandtown and the people who call it home, asking: How does where we’re from shape who we become?

About the Author:

Albert Phillips Jr. is a Baltimore-based writer and educator whose work thoughtfully explores the rich alchemy of Black life, both past and present. A graduate of Morgan State University with a B.S. in Print Journalism and an M.Ed. from Johns Hopkins University, Albert is currently an MFA candidate at the University of Baltimore. In 2020, he published his acclaimed debut book, Y'all Hiring? The Black Teen's Guide to Navigating Employment. Albert’s writing has been featured in Black Enterprise, The Afro, Baltimore Fishbowl, and various other online and print publications.

About the Program:

• Doors will open to registered attendees at 1 pm.
• Books will be available for purchase at the program.

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