As a journalist and critic, Lawrence Burney has been writing about music and culture in and around his hometown of Baltimore for more than a decade. His debut book, the essay collection No Sense in Wishing (Simon & Schuster, 2025), takes us from the streets of Baltimore to the concert halls of Lagos, a Gil Scott-Heron show, and a Maryland crab feast, as he considers the music, art, people, and places that have transformed him. Along the way, Burney assesses how the Black people in his home state have historically improvised paths for their liberation. 

On Saturday, October 3, he will be discussing No Sense in Wishing—this year’s One Maryland One Book selection—with broadcast journalist and video producer Alana Yzola-Daly, whose recent projects include an assistant producer role for The Ebony Canal, a documentary exploring Black infant health that won 2025 Mid-Atlantic regional Emmy Awards for “societal concerns” and “outstanding PSA.”

The event will open with a musical performance by Friends in Faith Gospel Group at 5:15, and a book signing will follow the talk. Books will be available for sale on site courtesy of Book Hounds. This is event is free and open to the public.

This program is presented in partnership with BAAM, Maryland Humanities, Shore Lit, and Talbot County Free Library. For questions about accessibility, please contact Marcus Moon at mmoon@baaminc.org.