In 1947 racism was still a major issue despite WWII having recently ended. However there is no trace of either in this photograph. Instead we see a black mother and daughter sitting and resting on top of a suitcase. The daughter looks tired and is resting her head on her slouching and equally weary looking mother. However neither of them seem to be aware of the camera despite the young girls facing the camera, the mother seems to be looking for someone and this captures the nature of the city’s longing. By capturing the sleepy girl and the tired mom who appears to be looking for the father of the girl in their natural environment without any poses or faked situations we can get a glimpse into the lives of the lower classes through Orkin’s photos.
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