Max Ferency
Dignity EP
How Baltimore Protests | Interlude | Dignity Before Bread
How Baltimore Protests
Release Date: May 1, 2015
The voices in the music above were recorded during the clean-up/protest/gathering at the corner of Pennsylvania and North Ave in Baltimore on April 28, 2015 - the day after the looting that was ignited after the death of Freddie Gray.
Some of the people interviewed had been standing in two rows of lines between the police line and protesters in order to protect each group from inciting the other. Others were cleaning up after the looting or handing out water bottles to the cleaners. Meanwhile others interviewed were part of the crowd that is shown in the video marching to nonviolently push back an armored police vehicle that had entered the intersection where the peaceful gathering was happening.
Earlier in the day people were playing music and dancing capoeira in an attempt to bring the community back together after the night of violence.
Points to Ponder:
- What the various people think of the Baltimore Police in general and what they think specifically about the Baltimore Police Officers associated with Freddie Gray's Death.
- What the various people think about why the riots happened.
- What the various people think about how to make the situation better.
Credits:
Voices
"But the fact of the matter is we're out here...":
@OutlandishJonesThe rest of the speakers are anonymous members of the community.
Music
Music written and performed by Max Ferency.Gear
Sano Zon-Rio Accordion, Moog MF Drive, Roland RD-300sx, Zoom H2, Focusrite Scarlet 2i4, Logic X Pro, Macbook ProInterlude
Dignity Before Bread
Release Date: August 10, 2015
Voices:
+ A student drops out of high school in Baltimore City.+ The activists of the Democracia Real Ya movement in Spain demand change to the economic system that created a national crisis.
+ Manoubia Bouazizi tells the story of how her son, Mohamed Bouazizi, sparked the Arab Spring by setting himself on fire in Tunisia after his vender cart was confiscated by local officials.
Points to Ponder:
- The difference between the teacher's intensions and how her words were received by the student.
- How the Spanish protesters view themselves and who they view as their audience.
- What pushed Mohamed Bouazizi to set himself on fire.
- What dignity means to each of the characters.
Credits:
Voice Actors (by order of entrance)
Student's Story:
Max Ferency;Democracia Real Ya::
Hania Luna;Manoubia Bouazizi:
Cori Dioquino;President Ben Ali:
Braddock Hargett;Student's Story Text
Fictional story by Max Ferency loosely based on a real student in Baltimore City.Democracia Real Ya Source Texts
Who We AreManifesto (en Español)
Manifesto (in English)
Bouazizi Source Texts
Time Magazine InterviewTunisia Live Interview