Thursday, February 25, 2016
Cries of An Early 20th Century Child: By Snapshot Historian
I don't want to go out today father; not into the field of smog
you call progress. Every day at the appointed hour of which you
sentence me to my trail of tears, I contemplate how your boss
goes about his day. How does he possess the rudeness to offer us
barely a penny for our deeds? I hold the conviction since the time
his mother bore him to this world his heart has always been absent
of sympathy. So abandon the novel belief your boss will reward us
with greater an amount of wage.
You encourage me with the hope I will find fulfillment in my
labor. I hear neither weight nor a sprinkle of truth in your words
father. I find no fruit in my labor, not even the satisfaction of hard
work our ancestors spoke of. I see myself as only a conductor to an
angry audience of machinery, an audience that hopes to consume
me.
I dread my every day passing through the unpaved streets of
Boston. It oppresses me because I know ounce I walk into the
house of metal my eyes will not make contact with the sun until
my next trail of tears. My ears will be kept away from hearing the
pleasing sounds of nature, and instead will be shaken by the
boisterous shrieks of appliances.
Father, I see I have no choice but to depart from our tiny home. I
will go grab my coat now and my heavy boots, I will be on my
way to work death's instruments. Farewell father, please you and
mother pray I will make it home the way I stand before you now.
Into the smog I go.
20th Century American Industry: The Bitter Smell of Progress
America in the 20th century had glamour, but it didn't share its
glamour with everyone.
In the early 20th century, more than half of the American
population was poverty stricken. For this reason, families sent
their children to work in factories: they needed all the income they
could get. While the reason seemed understandable, the factories
the children were sent to were a death sentence. A horror show of
machines that emitted bitter smog and waited to devour children in
the horrific symphony of machinery.
The working conditions in the factories were terrible; many
people got injured because of them. In the picture, one of the
children is barefoot. Both of the children look worried, which
makes sense as they are standing on a device that can injure them
at any second. The factory looks windowless, which gives the
impression the children do not have the right to see the light of
day. The monochrome grey fits this photograph as it accentuates
the gloominess of the situation.
Fortunately, around the first decade of the 20th-century
reform movements were implemented in America's industrial code
of law. Reform movements that stripped this picture of its
melancholy, and brought more favorable working conditions to
American factory workers. Conditions which rendered American
industry from then on, until this very day. And freed children from
the enslavement of industrial life, and catapulted them to what
today is a modern day educational system.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
20th Century Coney Island: From Rags to Riches
Those who have been to coney island, in New York, may be
thinking, how in the world is this Coney Island? And they are
right, it is not Coney Island, but it was Coney island.
Before the Great Depression, Coney Island was once a luxurious
playground for wealthy Americans. People in the photograph are
dressed in formal attire, even the children. As this is how people
presented their selves in the early 20th century. While the people
are nicely dressed, so is Coney Island in its vintage glory. Yes,
Coney Island wearing her coat of elegance; while charmed by
America's vintage, lavish beauty.
Unfortunately, as this was the summit of America's economic
rollercoaster, many people were unaware of a harsh economic drop
in their future. A drop that would strip Coney Island of her vintage
glory for many decades to follow. Thankfully, the area is being
reclaimed today in an attempt to reawaken the grandeur of the
sleeping giant, Coney Island.
Early 1900s America
Since I am an American blogger, let's start the first week from my
homeland before we journey to far off worlds. After all, who
would leave their country before saying goodbye?
Living in America in the early 20th century was like riding a
never-ending roller through life. Some years the economy hit the
jackpot, and some years it was bankrupt. This week, I will be
posting pictures from both of these parts of the early 20th century.
So fasten your seat belt because we are riding that economic
rollercoaster!
Welcome!
Welcome, everyone to the Snapshot Historian blog!
Where I will "piece history together through pictures."
I will be speaking about personal interpretations of many historical pictures, or sometimes artifacts and documents, from different eras of history.
Each week, I will choose a theme or time period from history. The pictures I post in that week will correspond to that theme or time period I chose. I will also post an original short story or poem once a week that reflects the theme or era of the week.
Feel free to leave your own thoughts on each picture I will post; I want to hear your perspective on each of the pictures I post!
And check back often for updates!
I look forward to journeying through time with you!
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