What I’m Reading
October 3, 2023
What I’m Reading today includes two stories on migration from America and Europe. And I’ll close the post with a photography video that is as peaceful as it is educational and entertaining.
Migration in America
Today’s first story combines migration and child labor into an emotional read that will take you about an hour (there’s an audio version available that runs just under the hour mark). The Kids on the Night Shift is worth that commitment.
Hannah Dreier (writing) and Meridith Kohut (photography) provide an important look at what happens to minors who come to the United States in hopes of supporting their struggling families south of the border.
The children Dreier and Kohut met are not only separated from their parents and aware their financial contribution is the lifeline their parents need, but they also work dangerous jobs. They work jobs children aren’t allowed to hold in the United States.
The main face in this story is a 14-year-old boy whose life in America began as a part of a cleaning crew for a slaughterhouse.
The writing is powerful and very descriptive. The portrayal of the working conditions underlines the importance and pushes readers to connect with the humanitarian side of the issue. Be warned: the description of the terrible accident this young boy suffers is rather vivid.
But if you read to the end, you’ll likely agree that there’s a glimmer of hope for his future.
I’ll leave the details of his fate and the well-explained complexity of the issue for your reading. You’ll hear why people in the system chose not to act when they realized minors worked jobs they shouldn’t be working and how the presence of journalists impacted the situation.
It’s journalism that deserves our attention.
Migration in Europe
When we look at migration in the news, Europe needs as much attention as the U.S. The number of refugees trying to enter the EU is rising, increasing political pressure across the continent.
The photo essay I share today is published on the Zuma Press blog zReportage. Adrift in a Sea of Red Tape, by photographer Ximena Borrazas, includes an informative introduction essay that informs us about Italy’s restrictive immigration policies. The government banned NGOs from rescuing migrants in peril on the ocean. At the same time, the increased arrivals have led to politicians now requesting support.
You’ll hear about a “pull factor” and studies on the impact of rescue missions on the number of migrants making that perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea.
The 18 images stand at the emotional core of the essay.
I especially reacted to the image of a woman from Cote d’Ivoire bursting into tears. It drives home the fact that migration is about people. It’s a picture that makes you stop and think.
Many images in this collection do that for me. Other examples include a 3-year-old in a life vest, an MSF rescue team handing out life jackets, and a young man waiting for lunch on the rescue boat.
On the flip side of the emotions, I enjoyed the second to last image that shows a woman speaking to her family after having reached the safety of the continent.
I highly recommend you spend some time with this visual look at migration in Europe. You can also play a 4-minute video that shows the images paired with a narration of the text.
Photography Relaxation
Today’s final recommendation is all about photography and Mother Nature. If all the heavy news gets a bit too much, here’s a perfect 16-minute escape. In Exploring New Bird Photography Location | Wild Camping, photographer Morten Hilmer shows us how he approaches a new location for bird photography. His method is as fascinating as it is meticulous. I hope you find this video as relaxing and enjoyable as I have.
Those are all the reading recommendations for this week. I’ll share photography from the locations I had to exclude from last week’s Fun With Cameras. Until then, enjoy your readings.
