When Lewis Hine began traveling the country in 1908 to document the working lives of children, around two million Americans younger than 15 were full-time laborers. A reformer and an investigative photographer for the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), Hine, who trained as a sociologist, used his Graflex camera for what he called “detective work”: He’d materialize outside a factory or mine or cannery (sometimes in the guise of a Bible salesman) and wangle his way in. Other times, management denied him entry, even threatening him with physical violence.

I didn't know that Hine was a trained sociologist when he started taking his camera into these places. How fascinating! The images are worth a look, they're haunting and stark.

This is the gilded age the billionaires want to return us to.

All but the very smallest babies work. All began at 3:30 a.m., expected to work until 5 p.m.

He is on the job from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. [17 hours a day] for seven days in the week

Fuuuuuck this is bleak.

And Republicans and billionaires keep pushing to roll back child labor laws and reduce the minimum working age. Because of course that would allow companies to pay workers less because they’re kids and less experienced, and thus reduce costs while increasing the labor force. Absolutely fucked.

Damn.