Another bit of history may be passing into oblivion: Baltimore's Arabbers

[Stinky The Clown]

'Arabbing' (A-rab-ing) is a term used to describe the activities of a group of small scale entrepreneurs -- mostly Black and male -- who for more decades than anyone can remember have hired horses and carts to carry a variety of food items to the neighborhoods of Baltimore. -- from a 1994 editorial in the Baltimore Afro-American.

Today, the one remaining stable housing the ponies (they're not full sized horses) that pulled the carts was condemned. The remaining 50 ponies were taken to Bowie race track today where they will be temporarily housed. Plans are underway for more permanent stables for them at Pimlico race track (home of the second jewel of the Triple Crown). No one is certain the ponies can remain there, but everyone at this point is hopeful.

When I moved to Baltimore in 1979, the Arabbers were quite common. Nowadays, the sight of one is an excuse to grab your camera.

The other thing to bear in mind is that these noble little steeds were the basis of the livelihoods for the families of the men who rented them on a daily basis. No one was ever getting rich doing this. Not the horse owners and not the Arabbers. We'll all be the poorer for no longer hearing them sing their songs citing the day's specials. These merchants were almost artists in the way they plied their trade.



Click the logo below to see but one site that discusses the Arabbers.

[moc]

1. Oh no!

:-(

Dh grew up in Baltimore (his family has been there for generations), and I lived there for about 11 years.

So sad. :-(

[RufusTFirefly]

2. Sad!

I grew up in Baltimore, but left around the time you arrived, Husb2Sparkly (nothin' personal, hun). We pronounced it "Ay-rab." Hope they still have Whalers, crabcakes (on Saltines, of course) and Pit Beef, at least.

[Igel]

3. When I was a kid, they were just "street Arabs" or "Arabs".

Oddly, there was never the slightest bit of confusion between them and Arabic speakers.

When did they become "Arabbers"? Were both terms in use for a long time?

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Terms

I have heard them called 'Arabs' (A-rabs), as you describe. Usually that meant the men who did this as a group of individuals. I also heard them called Arabbers, usually when referring to them, let's say as a class, not as a group of individuals. The overall undertaking - doing the job - was always 'Arabbing'.

And you're right. It was not connected in any way with people of Middle Eastern descent. I suspect (and this is only a guess) it is connecting to the horses .... increasing the nobility of the little ponies by calling them Arabians.

Anyway .... please understand that I am not a Baltimore native and only got here in 1979. This practice, and the use of these words, is far older than that and was near the end of common practice by then. Further, I claim no expertise on the work or on Baltimorese (Bawlamorese) in general. :)