An arabber (or a-rabber) is a street vendor (hawker) selling fruits and vegetables from a colorful, horse-drawn cart. Once a common sight in American East Coast cities, only a handful of arabbers still walk the streets of Baltimore.[1] They rely on street cries to attract the attention of their customers.
David and Harry Silverman in their fruit peddling cart, St. Paul, 1920
The term arabber is believed to derive from the 19th century slang term "street Arabs".[2] Arabbing began in the early 19th-century when access to ships and stables made it an accessible form of entrepreneurship. African American men entered the trade following the Civil War. Brightly painted and artfully arranged, arabber carts became a common sight on the streets of Baltimore. To alert city dwellers to their arrival, arabbers developed distinctive calls:[3]
Holler, holler, holler, till my throat get sore. If it wasn't for the pretty girls, I wouldn't have to holler no more. I say, Watermelon! Watermelon! Got 'em red to the rind, lady.
During World War II, factory jobs opened to white laborers, leaving arabbing an almost entirely African-American vocation. By then, arabbing was already in decline, threatened by the expansion of supermarkets and the disappearance of public stables. In the later 20th century, arabbers faced additional challenges from city zoning and vending regulations, and from animal rights advocates concerned about the health and welfare of the horses.
In 1994, the Arabber Preservation Society was founded to help bring Baltimore's Retreat Street stable, which had been condemned, up to city building codes.[4] The society continues to renovate and promote the preservation of the stables serving the remaining arabbers, who number fewer than a dozen. Besides providing a nostalgic glimpse of the past, arabbers still serve a practical purpose, bringing fresh produce and other goods to urban neighborhoods that are underserved by grocery stores.
Because arabbers generally do not have complete horse-care knowledge, they have formed a working connection with Pennsylvania Old Order Mennonites. The latter, with their rural, horse-and-carriage life-style provide the arabbers with know-how and opportunities to purchase horses.[5]
In popular culture
The documentary We Are Arabbers (2004), by filmmakers Scott Kecken and Joy Lusco Kecken, profiles contemporary arabbers.
Arabbers appear in seasons 1, 4, and 5 of the television series The Wire, partly written by the documentary filmmaker Joy Lusco Kecken, who also wrote for Homicide: Life on the Street.
Season 1 of the television series Homicide: Life on the Street features a plotline about an arabber suspected of murdering a little girl. (The series is based on a book by David Simon, who also created The Wire.)
On the May 5, 2009 episode of the television show Ace of Cakes, reference was made to an "arabber" carrying a customer around Baltimore in a coffin, as part of a living funeral.
See also
Costermonger, a street seller of fruits and vegetables
Greengrocer, a shop-based seller of fruits and vegetables
^McCauley, Mary Carole (March 7, 2019). "As Baltimore's arabbers become a thing of the past, a photographer aims to preserve the tradition". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
^McIntyre, John E. (2008-11-08). "You Don't Say: Baltimore words summed up". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
^. Baltimoremd.com. 2009-01-23. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
^. Baltimoremd.com. 2012-06-18. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
^McFadden, David, "2 old clans hitch horses together," Chicago Tribune, September 9, 2018, Section 1, p. 32.
Further reading
Associated Press (4 September 2018). "Central Pa. Mennonites help Baltimore merchants with their horses". PennLive. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
Bullock, Scott G. [Economic Liberty]. "Baltimore: No Harbor for Entrepreneurs". taxi-library.org. Institute for Justice. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
Finn, Catherine (May 30, 2009). "The Wanderers' Songs". Preservation Online.
External links
. BaltimoreMD.com. Arabber Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
January 30, 2023
arabber, arabber, rabber, street, vendor, hawker, selling, fruits, vegetables, from, colorful, horse, drawn, cart, once, common, sight, american, east, coast, cities, only, handful, arabbers, still, walk, streets, baltimore, they, rely, street, cries, attract,. An arabber or a rabber is a street vendor hawker selling fruits and vegetables from a colorful horse drawn cart Once a common sight in American East Coast cities only a handful of arabbers still walk the streets of Baltimore 1 They rely on street cries to attract the attention of their customers Arabbers selling produce from horse drawn carts Union Square Baltimore 2011 Contents 1 Arabbing 2 In popular culture 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksArabbing Edit David and Harry Silverman in their fruit peddling cart St Paul 1920 The term arabber is believed to derive from the 19th century slang term street Arabs 2 Arabbing began in the early 19th century when access to ships and stables made it an accessible form of entrepreneurship African American men entered the trade following the Civil War Brightly painted and artfully arranged arabber carts became a common sight on the streets of Baltimore To alert city dwellers to their arrival arabbers developed distinctive calls 3 Holler holler holler till my throat get sore If it wasn t for the pretty girls I wouldn t have to holler no more I say Watermelon Watermelon Got em red to the rind lady During World War II factory jobs opened to white laborers leaving arabbing an almost entirely African American vocation By then arabbing was already in decline threatened by the expansion of supermarkets and the disappearance of public stables In the later 20th century arabbers faced additional challenges from city zoning and vending regulations and from animal rights advocates concerned about the health and welfare of the horses In 1994 the Arabber Preservation Society was founded to help bring Baltimore s Retreat Street stable which had been condemned up to city building codes 4 The society continues to renovate and promote the preservation of the stables serving the remaining arabbers who number fewer than a dozen Besides providing a nostalgic glimpse of the past arabbers still serve a practical purpose bringing fresh produce and other goods to urban neighborhoods that are underserved by grocery stores Because arabbers generally do not have complete horse care knowledge they have formed a working connection with Pennsylvania Old Order Mennonites The latter with their rural horse and carriage life style provide the arabbers with know how and opportunities to purchase horses 5 In popular culture EditThe documentary We Are Arabbers 2004 by filmmakers Scott Kecken and Joy Lusco Kecken profiles contemporary arabbers Arabbers appear in seasons 1 4 and 5 of the television series The Wire partly written by the documentary filmmaker Joy Lusco Kecken who also wrote for Homicide Life on the Street Season 1 of the television series Homicide Life on the Street features a plotline about an arabber suspected of murdering a little girl The series is based on a book by David Simon who also created The Wire On the May 5 2009 episode of the television show Ace of Cakes reference was made to an arabber carrying a customer around Baltimore in a coffin as part of a living funeral See also EditCostermonger a street seller of fruits and vegetables Greengrocer a shop based seller of fruits and vegetables Hawker trade a street vendor Peddler a travelling seller of goodsReferences Edit McCauley Mary Carole March 7 2019 As Baltimore s arabbers become a thing of the past a photographer aims to preserve the tradition The Baltimore Sun Retrieved March 15 2020 McIntyre John E 2008 11 08 You Don t Say Baltimore words summed up baltimoresun com Retrieved 2023 01 15 Arabber Quotes and Bibliography Baltimoremd com 2009 01 23 Archived from the original on 2012 02 05 Retrieved 2012 07 03 Arabber Preservation Home Page Baltimoremd com 2012 06 18 Archived from the original on 2012 06 04 Retrieved 2012 07 03 McFadden David 2 old clans hitch horses together Chicago Tribune September 9 2018 Section 1 p 32 Further reading EditAssociated Press 4 September 2018 Central Pa Mennonites help Baltimore merchants with their horses PennLive Retrieved 4 September 2018 Bullock Scott G Economic Liberty Baltimore No Harbor for Entrepreneurs taxi library org Institute for Justice Retrieved May 30 2009 Finn Catherine May 30 2009 The Wanderers Songs Preservation Online External links Edit Arabber BaltimoreMD com Arabber Preservation Society Archived from the original on 2012 06 04 Retrieved 2012 07 03 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arabber amp oldid 1133849806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
