The Arrow Hurler Race Card
May 2nd, 2007
I’m not a racist.
But when I drive past a myriad of street corners in my hood on weekends, I often come in contact with what I like to call the “arrow hurler” — a person who stands, dances, listens to music over earphones, and hurls a huge arrow back and forth, one which often advertises open houses, low mortgage rates or supermarket grand openings. Ninety-nine percent of the time, such arrow hurlers are white folks. But every once in awhile, I see an African American arrow hurler…
…and the differences are very very clear.
Throw out the generalities and stereotypes if you must. Talk about athletics and intelligence and eye/hand coordination. Lump different ethnicities in with different abilities. Talk about financial standing and formal education. Reference your own experiences and how they don’t mesh with those on TV. Talk about violence, hate and rage.
But make sure you talk about the arrow hurlers.
Don’t ask me where the arrow hurlers get trained (but according to yesterday’s Los Angeles Times, apparently somewhere). Don’t ask me how they flip them so gallantly into the air and still catch them. Don’t ask me what they’re listening to or how long they do it for. But if you ask me to tell you the difference between the white arrow hurlers and the black arrow hurlers, I will surely have a tale to tell.
The white arrow hurlers seemingly have to prove something.
They dance and bounce and jerk and jive and toss and twirl and slip and slide. They bop to the beat and they point at the cars, making particular eye contact if you sneak a look. They often jump with their mouths open, pass the arrows underneath their crotchety area, and run back and forth like a silly fool. The white arrow hurler swings the arrow in huge circular motions, flipping and twisting and turning at any given chance.
And the black arrow hurler?
He stands there. Holding the arrow. And the only thing that moves is his head. Subtly. Up and down, as he listens to whatever music he’s got being pumped through those ear phones. There is no movement whatsoever and it makes me think the black arrow hurler knows something the white arrow hurlers do not.
Namely — that you’ve gotta conserve your energy.
For being an arrow hurler is tough enough for an hour. And even tougher on a hot Saturday. And tougher still when you’ve got to flip and twirl and twist and jerk. And some may say impossible, when your audience is only there for the thirty seconds it takes for the light to turn green. Perhaps the white arrow hurlers know this, and they’re looking for a quick fix of star-power. And perhaps the black arrow hurlers could care less.
Either way — the arrow hurler race card is out there. Just like different races approach different aspects of society in a different way, so too do they when it comes to a huge oversized arrow with a stylish (yet terse) message printed across the side.
Open Houses Today!
Try The New Low-Fat Kiwi-Strawberry Slurpee!
Mortgage Rates, Lowest Ever!
No matter the message. And no matter the font. There is only one thing that would get me to take notice. And that one thing as already caused me to take notice.
It is the black arrow hurler. My savior on the street corner.
God bless. And God speed.
Wow. After Don Imus no one wants to jump into race discussions, I guess. Until now, Paul I never paid much attention to the person hurling arrows along the road, except for maybe at Halloween time when they are done up in some unnessarily hot costume on warm October day. In that case I often think to buy them a drink but don’t. I just drive on wondering how one ends up hurling arrows or pushing costumes or whatever in the first place. A whole new perspective you have given me, Paul. Thank you.
Comment by Jerry — May 2, 2007 @ 10:56 am
since this is about race, i’d like to share that last week, when we were innocently driving around that area of Pasadena where it looks like the earth had gas and burped up a few too many new condo developments — yeah, that corner — there were three Latino arrow hurlers who looked like they were re-enacting the dance-off scene from West Side Story. one guy on the NW corner would do a move, and point to the SW corner guy. he’d do a move, then mad-dog the guy on the NE corner.
then this week, somewhere in West L.A. — same thing. two Latino arrow hurlers on opposite corners doing a serious dance-off. what’s next? krumping arrow hurlers? (i can only hope and pray…)
Comment by hadashi — May 2, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Jerry - Ah, yes. Don Imus. Good thing no one can fire me since I don’t get paid to do this anyway. But, really — let’s be honest. This is less about race and more about the way different people hurl arrows. Still.
Hadashi - See, I love that. Everyone (maybe not based on race) hurls those arrows different. West Side Story! I hope someone was listening to Officer Kruptkee.
Comment by Pauly D — May 2, 2007 @ 11:08 am
The Arrow Hurlers. First, I believe they’re called Arrow Spinners. Until recently, my brother was one of them. He did it for like 6 months, on and off. I always feel bad whenever I see them because I live in Vegas, and do you know how HOT it gets, especially when you are carrying those big signs and doing tricks with them for at least 6 hours? Here are some answers to some of of the questions:
1.) How do they get this job?
A: Through word of mouth. Most of these kids are in high school and at least know one person who does it.
2.) Where do they practice?
A: Usually in a nearby park.
3.) How long do they do it for?
A: Anywhere between 4-8 hours.
4.) How do they know how to do these tricks?
A: No, it’s not skill, they’re taught by their boss.
5.) What are they listening to?
A: Only they know.
I hope these help with any questions you might have. My brother tells me that sometimes they get flipped off by other teens for no reason, so I just ask everyone, please be kind.
As for the race card: My brother’s half asian/half white, but looks Hispanic. All the races do the same thing, from my perspective. But here’s a secret: Sometimes, their boss drives by to make sure they’re flipping the signs. The more you flip, the better.
P.S. Didn’t mean to make this as long as an essay, but I’m in between classes and bored.
Comment by Stephanie — May 2, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
Is this another LA phenom? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen an Arrow Thing-Doer of any sort.
I HAVE seen sign holders, but that’s all they do around here.
Comment by kiki — May 2, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Arrow Hurlers? People holding signs for a living? Really? Gosh, you Americans are wacky with the advertising. We only recently started handing out little flyers and coupons on street corners…
Comment by cinekat — May 2, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
Like Stephanie, I also live in Vegas. There are hurlers every few blocks or so here, at least on the west end of town. However, I’ve not noticed the phenomenon that you describe. Every hurler I’ve seen here is most enthusiastic, despite ethnicity. And while I’ve not seen a dance off between hurlers, I can say that some of the boys I’ve seen could make a run for that show Dancing with the Stars. They. Are. That. Good.
They definitely make for good entertainment while you’re sitting at our 4-6 minute stop lights.
Comment by Kellie — May 3, 2007 @ 6:08 am
Kellie - Well, it’s just too bad that what started in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas.
Comment by Pauly D — May 3, 2007 @ 7:27 am
I think a lot of folks feel that way, and not just about the hurlers. But hey, we can’t keep it all to ourselves. Spread the love and all that ya know. =)
Comment by Kellie — May 3, 2007 @ 8:16 am