Soweto: A Tale of Resilience and Struggle Part 3 (Page 3): I grew up very poor, and was born during the tail end of the depression. But living in Brooklyn, I certainly had electricity...

MosheR Loc: New York City

DougS wrote:

Thanks for the excellent tour(s)!
Back in the 1950's, I remember seeing similar housing here in the USA.
We all either "Make do", working with what life give us, OR we get innovative/inventive. I wonder what our live style will look like to our decedents 100 or so years in the future. My wife grew up with no indoor plumbing, or central heating. She refuses to use an outhouse now...

I grew up very poor, and was born during the tail end of the depression. But living in Brooklyn, I certainly had electricity and indoor plumbing. Even heat. I never knew anyone there who didn't have that. I'm guessing your wife grew up in rural Arkansas, or some such place??

Moondoggie Loc: Southern California

Very nice street photography. It certainly depicts the life in this part of the world. Great job.

MosheR Loc: New York City

Moondoggie wrote:

Very nice street photography. It certainly depicts the life in this part of the world. Great job.

Thanks very much. Depicting what I see as the truth is always my aim in photography, whether it's what you see here, or in a photograph of a banana. When I succeed, which I occasionally do, I'm satisfied.

Frayud Loc: Bethesda,MD

From my 1st visit in 1959 through several others through the 90's I noted areas with small, extremely neat, brick homes virtually all with lace curtains in the front windows and a water faucet (often polished) near the front door. The front yards were of beaten earth never of grass.

MosheR Loc: New York City

Frayud wrote:

From my 1st visit in 1959 through several others through the 90's I noted areas with small, extremely neat, brick homes virtually all with lace curtains in the front windows and a water faucet (often polished) near the front door. The front yards were of beaten earth never of grass.

That was very different, as you can see from my pictures, from the experience we had. Thanks for letting me know this. I will have to show your letter to my wife.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

MosheR wrote:

I grew up very poor, and was born during the tail end of the depression. But living in Brooklyn, I certainly had electricity and indoor plumbing. Even heat. I never knew anyone there who didn't have that. I'm guessing your wife grew up in rural Arkansas, or some such place??

She was born on a mountain top, 20ish miles west of Mt. View. She has 9 siblings, all of whom 'turned out' very well. She grew up down in the White River valley, south of New Port, AR. Several family worked for Walmart, and even knew Sam Walton. He, and his family lived in Newport, AR right before moving to northwest AR.
She had an older cousin who taught Jane Fonda how to talk with a "Hillbilly twang", for the movie "The Doll Maker". Jane Fonda actually lived with her for 2-3 months, to pickup the twang. Kathy does NOT have that twang, lol. You would never think she was a country, Hillbilly girl. Her father was a lumber jack, and even had his own small sawmill for a while.
She has a very interesting family history. Her maternal grandmother was a 'trapeze artist' in her younger days (Barnum and Baily). She was quite intelligent, and loads of fun to be around. Kathy is somewhat distantly related to a former President of the U.S.

lnl Loc: SWFL

Living with razor wire would be disconcerting but I imagine it’s normal to them. I like the brightly colored orange dwelling in #2. Color makes a lot of difference.

MosheR Loc: New York City

lnl wrote:

Living with razor wire would be disconcerting but I imagine it’s normal to them. I like the brightly colored orange dwelling in #2. Color makes a lot of difference.

Let's say that the razor wire is "normal" to them the way our recently crazy weather is becoming "normal" to us. It's there. They don't like it. But they need it and they live with it. As for that house in #2, well, color always sparks things up.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

MosheR wrote:

Jo, when I take photos of my travels I try, as much as possible in the all to briefly passing moments, to capture life the way I witness it in the country in which I am visiting. That's always my goal. There's no such animal as "truth," but this is truth the way I see it as best as I can determine.

Your post are always filled with emotions and they come through loud and clear!

MosheR Loc: New York City

DougS wrote:

She was born on a mountain top, 20ish miles west o... (show quote)

So my guess was a good one. Where else in our time but in rural areas of .... is Arkansas considered to be a southern state? Or a western?? Anyway, that's the kind of area I would have imagined would be the way you described it.

That's one of the things I really enjoy about this forum. You don't really "meet" people in the actual sense, but you sort of become pen pals with them. And many of us have such different upbringings, understandings, and points of view, yet within our little niche of photography we generally get along, learn from, and respect each other.

I've driven out west many times, and have had the pleasure of actually touring around your state. It was quite beautiful, and the banana blueberry crumble pie I had along the way was the best I had ever eaten.

Anyway, I thank you for that short biography of your wife. It was interesting enough to Brooklyn boy me that I read it out loud to my Bronx girl wife. Be wll.

Mel

MosheR Loc: New York City

Horseart wrote:

Your post are always filled with emotions and they come through loud and clear!

Thank you for that, Jo. That kind, generous comment makes me very emotional.

Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY

MosheR wrote:

This series will make more sense if you start it at "Soweto: A Tale of Resilience and Struggle Part 1."

MosheR Loc: New York City

Bubalola wrote:

😂

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

MosheR wrote:

So my guess was a good one. Where else in our tim... (show quote)

While Arkansas is considered part of the "South", it is more of a hybrid of the south and mid-west. Similar to Missouri.

MosheR Loc: New York City

DougS wrote:

While Arkansas is considered part of the "South", it is more of a hybrid of the south and mid-west. Similar to Missouri.

Thanks, Doug. I learned something.