0008 City Inspectors Take Action

Baltimore arabbers have a major setback in their continued battle to keep the unique piece of Baltimore history alive and functioning. City inspectors gathered at the Fulton Avenue location, that housed the horses used by the arabbers, to confiscate the animals because of complaints filed against the entrepreneur's of unsanitary conditions and mistreatment. The horses were removed from the facility and taken to a more suitable home in Woodbine, MD. The video, after the brief advertisement, is a portion of the footage shot during the time the horses were being removed. These actions against the arabbers are part of the mounting struggles that make the existence of these entrepreneurs on the streets of Baltimore very doubtful.

0007 - Baltimore's Deputy Commissioner Becomes Involved in the Arabbers Issues

A visit to the office of Baltimore's Deputy Commissioner Reginald Scriber, to conduct an interview on the arabbers situation in Baltimore, was very productive. I got a chance sit down with Mr. Scriber and ask some questions and gain some insight on the situation the arabbers are facing and to find out what the city of Baltimore is planning to do about the dying piece of history that the city is in danger of losing. The first thing Mr. Scriber said he wanted me to know was that the city of Baltimore is working hard with the arabbers to resolve their issues, but the arabbers have to step up and be more responsible in order for the situation to have a positive ending. We discussed the plans the city has in the works for the arabbers to become a part of the tourist attraction being put together at the B & O Railroad and the brochure that they are in the process of developing that will include a section focusing on the history of Baltimore's arabbers. Mr. Scriber also gave me some details about how the current economic situation Baltimore city is facing may play a role in what will happens and what the future may hold for the arabbers. The meeting with Mr. Scriber helped to answer many of the questions I had about the arabbers and I was told to look for some news about their issues to come very soon!


Photo courtesy of: http://static.baltimorehousing.org/pdf/org15.pdf

0006 - Arabbers Future Depend on "Manboy"

My research gathering discovered a very interesting video of the oldest and most well known arabber in Baltimore. He is known as "Manboy". Many people that have tremendous respect for what he has done for the Arabbers in Baltimore call him "Mr. Manboy". This gentlemen is said to be the one that is keeping the shrinking arabbing business alive in the city. He talks about things such as the struggles and the obstacles they are facing and what the old Baltimore tradition means to him. I think this video helps you to get a better understanding of what the future looks like for the arabbers.



Video courtesy of: http://bob.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=17500