(click photographs for captions)
Hine was one of many crusaders who fought big industries during the progressive era. His large scale documentation of child labor had a tremendous impact on society by exposing the truth and inspiring citizens and fellow advocates to take a stand for children’s rights.
Hine was also an innovator, bringing documentary photography into the world, and using photography in a new way. He used photography as a force for social change, captioning his photographs with data, and widely distributing his photographs in posters and newspapers. Though it took the Great Depression to finally end child labor, the hard work of Hine and his fellow crusaders during the progressive era laid the foundation for laws that govern child labor today. Motivated by selfless goals, Hine aimed his work to benefit more than himself. He wanted his photographs to produce social change instead of fame or fortune. Although Hine died unknown and penniless, he enriched the lives of millions of children. We need to uphold Hine's legacy and always protect vulnerable laborers like children from big industry greed. |