Final Project pieces, telling stories exploring inequality or low-wage work in America.
Clean Finish, by Diana Joseph
After 16 years as a Duke employee, a woman we’ll call Ms. Patty Jones begins to reflect back on her time here. The struggles she has faced range from financial issues to something even more troubling: questions of respect. Yes, there are parts of her job that she loves, but the less-glorious aspects seem to be piling up into something that can’t be cleaned away.
Our Number One, by Maria Luisa Frasson
Duke Chapel custodian Oscar Dantzler never holds back any love or wisdom from students. Producer Luisa Frasson introduces the true heart of Duke’s campus.
Getting By, by Alex Long
The evolution of minimum wage laws over the past few decades has been beneficial progressive for a portion of society, yet many still struggle to get by. The minimum wage is ultimately set by politicians, but we should still explore the lives of low-wage workers and hear their thoughts on the matter. Meet Oana, who works long hours and sacrifices to provide her kids with opportunities for a fulfilling life.
Getting By in Durham, by Jordan Taylor
In the United States, the minimum hourly wage remains stagnant at $7.25. Minimum wage earners, many of them struggling to support a family, fight to live comfortable lives. Some occupy the free time they do have to lobby for a living wage, often estimated at above $10 an hour. In this piece, Jordan Taylor, a freshman at Duke University, explores minimum wage work, living wage work, and the activism that strives to make the two one and the same.
Lizzie Mae Bradley, by Sarah Spivey
Lizzie Mae Bradley’s life has seen the worst of extreme poverty and racism. Born to sharecropper parents, Lizzie Mae has been working since she was four years old. But rather than letting the difficulty of her experiences define her, seventy -three years of struggle have refined Lizzie Mae into the quintessence of grace.
Undocumented Life, by Wei Wang
Siler City had been a rather quiet small Southern town until local chicken-processing plants began recruiting workers from Mexico and Central America during the 1980’s and ‘90’s. In twenty years, the town became predominantly Hispanic. On Nov. 20th, President Obama’s announcement about new immigration policy had some people in Siler City feeling optimistic. Despite setbacks, these families keep striving to reach their American Dream.
