Housing, Conditions: United States. New Jersey. Newark: Housing Conditions in Newark, New Jersey: III. Close building renders several rooms dark. c. 1903

Curator: This photograph, by Jessie Tarbox Beals, is titled "Housing Conditions in Newark, New Jersey." It looks like a gelatin silver print. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It feels bleak, the buildings are so close together. What do you see in this piece, particularly regarding its social context? Curator: Beals was a pioneering photojournalist, and this image speaks volumes about urban inequality. The cramped buildings, the darkness implied by the title – it all points to systemic issues. What does it tell us about who had access to light, space, and a decent quality of life? Editor: It makes me think about how these conditions affected the residents, especially marginalized communities. Curator: Exactly. How can we use this image to discuss class, race, and gender in early 20th-century urban America? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way, but now I see how it connects to larger social justice issues. Curator: This image is a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for equitable housing.