When sociologist Jennifer Toth ventured into the tunnels, in search of the near mythical Mole People, she expected to find a nightmare world of drug addiction, alcoholism and the very dregs of society.
She found them alright, but she also encountered teachers, social workers and other professionals. They were living testimony to the truism that many of us are only three or four pay-packets away from destitution.
She also discovered a young Puerto Rican family, terrified of being deported, if they resided above. The children were in their school uniforms. The father worked in construction. The mother did her best to keep a filthy environment clean and healthy. They had fled a nice, suburban apartment, when a neighbor learned that they were undocumented.
There was an enclave of children in a concealed room beneath a central station. It had once been a cellar but, for whatever reason, the doors had been bricked up. They'd found a wall with a hole in it for an entrance. Traumatized runaways huddled together; one tiny boy was practically paralyzed with fear, after witnessing his mother's murder.
Meanwhile, just one tunnel along, a roving gang of assassins would take anyone out for cash.
These are just some of the stories that she revealed in her book, The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City.
Comments
Thank you for reading. And welcome to Wizzley! <3
Thank you very much.
Excellent article Jo, very interesting.
It's a fascinating story, isn't it? Made all the more thought-provoking because it is true and they are down there.
Wow, how did I miss this one? Definitely something to think about.
Hear, hear, Katie! I'm glad that it provided some food for thought. Thank you for commenting. :)
Very good and moving indeed, perfect for reflecting on a Saturday afternoon. There is so much need in the world may the compassion of us all rise to the occasion each and every time awareness is made of such sad circumstances.
I thought so too. Thank you for commenting.
I didn't know that about Bucharest. I know that over 100 children survived the Holocaust by fleeing to the sewers. While their entire families were taken to the Death Camps, they fended alone underground.
A very interesting article Jo. I remember watching a program a number of years ago about street children living in the tunnels and sewer beneath Bucharest, Romania. It was shocking to see young children having to live in such conditions