One question has haunted me throughout the entire research process. Could I comprehend the complexity of the issues that led to Baltimore riots in 1968, and how those riots shaped the lives of Baltimore residents. Quickly, I came to the realization that whatever caused the riots were not unique to Baltimore, because cities like Detroit, and Washington D.C. had riots also. As I read through articles and books on the riots a trend emerged; urban cities across the nation struggled to address the growing problems in their urban centers. So the tile of this section is my attempt to frame the riots in Baltimore as less of local problem, and view it as a part of a broader national problem. I suggest that a failure to address employment discrimination, inadequate housing, and unhealthy race relations led to the riots of 1968. Ultimately the question would be, could America deal with the racial issues that threatened to split the nation from within?
For Americans the prospect of home ownership signals the attainment of a piece of the American dream. For many of Baltimore's black residents during the 1960's, this dreams never came to fruition. When assessing the underlying factors that led to the riots, it would be beneficial to analyze the housing conditions of blacks in Baltimore. Once we understand the housing conditions, we can use that insight to understand one of primary factors that drove Baltimore's black community to the streets in revolt.
Much like other metropolitan cities, Baltimore struggled to keep pace with the growing housing demands of its citizens. Those that were impacted the most were the city's poor black residents. In an analysis done by the Baltimore Urban Renewal and Housing Agency in 1965, we gain critical insight about the housing problems confronting black Baltimoreans in the 1960's. The first observation is that 56% of all black rental units in Baltimore City were classified as “substandard” and “deficient”, compared to 22% of all white residents whose rental units held the same classification. 
More than 50% of all black rental units were structurally falling apart, many lacked adequate pluming, and were in need of major repairs. Some of the units were described as being“in such poor condition it endangered the health, safety, or well-begin of the occupants” (Select Housing and Household Characteristics of the White and Nonwhite Population. 8). These apartments were not fit for anyone to live in, much less anyone living in a vibrant American city. But these conditions would serve as another grievance between Baltimore's black community and those in positions of power.
Another observation made by BURHA about the condition of black housing in Baltimore was, that blacks made up “99.1 percent of all nonwhites in Baltimore City” (Housing Market Analysis for Baltimore Community Renewal. 1). The fact that blacks were the largest nonwhite group in Baltimore leading up to the riots, helps explain why “97%” of those arrested during the riots were black (Report on Baltimore Civil Disorders. 20). Unlike the riots Baltimore had in the 1800's over political and workers issues, where immigrants and citizens fought together against oppressive political and social systems (The Baltimore Book: New Views of Local History. 2).
The rioters in 1968 were primarily black, and one of major issues impacting this population was housing. Much like the rioters that came before them, blacks in 1968 were felt oppressed and frustrated with their place in society. The housing problems in Baltimore city would lead became another reason to why revolt was necessary.
My final observation of the BURHA analysis is that 24% of all black renters homes were considered overcrowded, compared to 9.4% of all white renters in Baltimore city (Select Housing and Household Characteristics of the White and Nonwhite Population. 9). On their own these number do not constitute a crisis, but when we consider that blacks only constituted roughly 30% of Baltimore's population the challenges becomes clearer (Select Housing and Household Characteristics of the White and Nonwhite Population. 16). Restricting 300,000 people to a small amounts of space is never a good idea. Restricting 300,000 people to housing that is deteriorating, and expecting them to be satisfied is not a good strategy for urban housing. 
The housing options for black residents in Baltimore was a constant reminder of their position in society. Not only were their needs ignored. But the possibility of them being accepted as Americans, seemed less likely to happen in their generation. During the riots the frustration would be expressed through destruction, but no longer could these citizens be ignored.
(All images used courtesy of Langsdale Library Special Collection)
