" Miners: Harley Bruce,
a young coupling-boy at Indian Mine. He appears to be 12 or 14 years old and
says he has been working there about a year. It is hard work and dangerous.
Near Jellico, Tennessee."
"The Mill: One of the spinners in Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches high. Has
been in the mill one year. Sometimes works at night. Runs 4 sides - 48 cents
a day. When asked how old she was, she hesitated, then said, "I don't
remember," then added confidentially, "I'm not old enough to work,
but do just the same." Out of 50 employees, there were ten children about
her size. Whitnel, North Carolina."
These are two photographs taken by Lewis Hine. His photographs highlighted child labor during 1908-1912. They helped bring realization to America of the working conditions and facts of child labor.
I think about a lot of things while looking at these. I feel sad, angry, righteous. Also, I wonder about our time and what is happening to children now. Is this still happening? America has labor laws, but are they followed? What about immigrants or illegals? We know of reports of child labor in other counties.
These pictures, though old, and dated are still very valid today and they stand the test of time.
** Picture quotes by Lewis Hine. See more at http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/
Wow! Reminds me of when I visited Ellis Island. These images have a way of transporting you to another era, another world, that although was not too terribly long ago, it seems like eons. Unreal and sad that anything like that ever took place.
ReplyDeleteThis is very sad, as children were forced to work to make money for their families. I think that it would be hard these days to break labor laws in America, but laws are broken every day in various ways...but there are so many people that have empathy enough to report something like that if it were seen. Kids should still be allowed to be kids, but in America we rush kids to grow up and be responsible, so in a way we are pushing other responsibilities on our kids, sex and sexuality being #1 in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteTo address Kellie's statement, labor laws may be more stringent in America but that is not stopping children from being exploited or victimized, especially those of foreign origin who come to america without parental security or family members. There is a shocking amount of trafficking that goes on in Orlando's backyard and it wasn't exposed until recently. http://www.floridaslavery.org/ is a website that might shed some light on jeri's photographys.
ReplyDeleteWow! this pictures say a lot..and adding to Jerry's comments, is amazing how many slaves we have now a day (the moment in the history of the world with more slavery!) Usually sexual slaves. i really liked your selections! keep it up!
ReplyDelete