Baltimore: A City That Will Rise

As a Marylander born and bred and a long time resident of Baltimore City I have become quite disturbed by what I’ve seen in my city. With shows like “The Wire” as well as “The Corner” I feel like there is another side of the city that isn’t being portrayed enough. Yes, it is true that our murder rate is the second highest in the country. And over 20% of our population lives below the poverty line. Still Baltimore is a city that continues on with its life. It’s not all crime, murder and drugs. Let us not forget about the families that push themselves through the struggles of inner city life everyday.

Baltimore is a city of characters. Everyone you meet, every where you go has a story to tell and will most times will do so with a smile on their face. There is a strong sense of family in the communities and friends and neighbors are for the most part always willing to lend a helping hand. During the warmer months you can drive down the streets and see people sitting on their front steps talking until way past the sun goes down. Kids playing ball in the streets. People just being people. And the ice cream truck is always a welcome sight and sound.

Yes, like any city it has its problems with drugs, crime, prostitution, gangs and etc. But, there is a certain energy to it that can not be put into words. There’s a sort of sense of survival in the air. A sense of hope. Baltimore has always been known as a working class town, and they will continue to work to make themselves better people. In 1907 February of 1907 The Great Baltimore Fire burned for some 30 hours destoying over 1,500 buildings. It was later said theat the city had risen from the ashes. Well, once again this city will rise from the ashes.