News-Letter

Media Credit: Shiv Gandhi [Click to enlarge]

Hidden within the various colored taxis of Baltimore is a rich variety of stories and cultures. People from all over the world and nearly every walk of life can be found piloting these vehicles-for-hire. Some have chosen the life, while others have been forced into it by circumstance. A sampling from the taxicab lineup in front of Penn Station can lead to stories from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Jamaica and various cities in the United States. Many drivers, especially those from other countries, drive taxis to stay afloat financially. Some are well educated, experienced and find driving a taxi demeaning.

One of these drivers is a tall, dark man from Nigeria. When asked about his reasons for being a taxi driver, he nearly walks away without answering. After a second thought, he turns back to explain his reluctance: He arrived in the United States in 1981 and studied in New York. There he earned a bachelor's degree and masters degree and later worked in the World Trade Center for three years. He is not proud to be a taxi driver. Another driver, who has been driving about a year, voices plainly his aversion for the job. "You don't get any respect. People in stores who get five dollars an hour get more respect than me. I make ten dollars an hour … It is not a respectable job," he says.

Other drivers don't mind the line of work. One man from Ethiopia has been in the United States for 34 years. "Driving a cab is fun, but it has ups and downs just like any other job … I enjoy the people." This driver came to the United States for a better life. "I like it here, that's why I have been here 34 years. If I didn't like it I would have made a U-turn and went right back … 'cause I have a round trip ticket."

His family, including a wife and two children, live and go to school here in Baltimore. "I have two kids, a boy and a girl. They were born here; they are Americans … apple pie and all of that."

While some have ended up driving taxis out of need, others have chosen the life. One such person is a tall gray bearded man named Marshal. Leaning up against the brick wall of Penn Station waiting for a customer, he is both experienced and eloquent. From Louisville, Ky., he came to Baltimore in 1970 and started driving a cab in 1991. Like many other drivers, he planned on driving a taxi for only for a short time. "During the recession in 1991 I was going to float resumes and go back into computer programming. I got tired of it. I am a retired mainframe IBM programmer." His speech and mannerisms evoke images of a college professor.

Continued...

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