There may be no more iconic sound on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, than the bells from a paletero’s cart. Those are the street vendors who sell paletas, or popsicles. But have you ever wondered what the job is like? And who does it?
Paula Lovo is an artist and educator who grew up on the south side of Milwaukee and documented a paletero's story: Donato.
Donato works seven days a week, anywhere from eight to 12 hours, walking tens of miles per day pushing his carrito, which can weigh up to 150 pounds. This summer, Milwaukee has seen stretches of rough weather, including terrible air quality, oppressive heat and thousand-year flooding. When that happens, Donato finds warehouse work. When it’s not paleta season, he has a factory job.
While Donato has worked all over the U.S., his family is back in Mexico. He talks to his wife every day on his route and keeps in touch with his two children, including his daughter, 24, who is an engineer, and his son, 17, who’s studying to become an architect.
While the days are long and often lonely, Donato has also had to worry about his safety while vending. Last year, he was robbed at gunpoint and says that while the men found his single dollar bills, he’s learned to hide his larger bills, which they didn’t find.
As an immigrant without legal status, he also knows that at any time he could be targeted by immigration officials and removed from the country. Even still, he says he’s happy to be a paletero, to exercise, meet new people and for all that he does have.
