To the editor: Her article and her photographs showing the reality of children and their parents living on Skid Row are reminiscent of the most iconic photograph taken in 1936 by Dorothea Lange, titled “Migrant Mother.” That photo showed a homeless mother covered in dirt with three of her children, exposing the harsh conditions endured by migrant farmworkers in California 88 years ago.
Los Angeles is a city that has two different faces: one of wealth and success, the other of suffering. It's vital to tell stories like those of the Skid Row families now, so we can change this situation so it doesn't happen in 88 years.
Our city leaders have failed miserably for decades to effectively address this problem. We have become desensitized and avert our eyes to the struggles of so many in need.
I am sure that Dorothea Lange would not like what she described in 1936 to happen in 2024. However, her important and historic work stands the test of time and continues to remind us of the conditions of so many people in America who are simply trying to survive.
Frances Terrell Lippman, Sherman Oaks
