Twelve-year-old Hyman Alpert sold newspapers on New Haven streets to help support his family. After work, he found refuge at the Boys Club—one of the few safe spaces where working children could rest and learn. This photograph documents the hidden labor of thousands of American children.
Twelve-year-old Hyman grips his newspapers, the ink still fresh on his fingers. For three years he's worked these New Haven streets, calling out headlines to passersby. When dusk falls, he trades the corner for the Boys Club—a refuge where he can be just a kid again.
Reflect
What responsibilities did you have at Hyman's age, and how did they shape who you became?