Social Distancing, Another Time

This group of men appears to be social distancing before it became mandatory throughout most of the world. But, this sculpture recalls another time and reason that caused serious economic and social issues in the US.

This sculpture is in Room Two of the FDR Memorial in Washington, DC, a presidential memorial dedicated to the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd US President, and to the era he represents. Dedicated in May 1997, the monument traces 12 years of US history through a sequence of four outdoor rooms, one for each of FDR's four terms of office.

This life-size sculpture, The Breadline, is in Room Two which covers the time of the US Great Depression (August 1929-March 1933). The sculpture represents the difficulties encountered by many in those years. It was created by American painter and sculptor George Segal.

The five male figures in the sculpture have downcast eyes. All are dressed in long coats and hats as a defense against the cold. They are shown standing in line against a brick wall, waiting for food that may be only bread. They face a windowless wooden door that's closed in front of them. 

A 1937 inscription partly above and to the left of this sculpture is not shown in this photo. Taken from FDR's Inaugural Address in January 1937 as he began his second term in office, it reads: I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, and ill-nourished. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

Considering Roosevelt's disability, memorial designers planned that it be accessible to those with physical impairments. The memorial includes an area with tactile reliefs with braille writing for those who are vision-impaired. 

Despite the sad time it represents, this piece is the memorial's most popular photo-op. Visitors pose at the front or end of the line and slump shoulders to look downtrodden. Others attempt to push it over like a stack of dominoes. The sculpture was never meant to encourage this behavior. 

Perhaps, those who think it presents a funny moment don't know its full significance at not just a moment in time, but years of many people's lives.

Today is April 1, also known as April Fools' Day, when people typically play practical jokes or hoaxes on unsuspecting others. Some online sources have suggested the "joke" is to cancel the month of April as the current state of the world is no laughing matter.

Still, we're trying to find something(s) to be happy about when we can, and YOU?