What West Virginia’s new child labor law tells us about a growing trend and a forgotten history.
📜 Introduction
In April 2025, West Virginia passed a law eliminating work permit requirements for 14- and 15-year-olds and opening hazardous occupations to older teens. It’s a policy shift that echoes a much darker chapter of American history—one most of us thought was long behind us.
As I read the news, I couldn’t help but recall Lewis Hine’s haunting photos of the “Breaker Boys”—children as young as eight sorting coal in dangerous conditions. Their faces were the face of American industry at its most exploitative. Their plight helped spark the labor reforms we now take for granted.
But are those reforms at risk of unraveling?
🕰 A Brief History of Child Labor in America
At the turn of the 20th century, over two million American children worked long hours in factories, coal mines, and fields. Some were as young as five. The wages were low, the conditions dangerous, and the toll—educational, emotional, and physical—immeasurable.
Most of these children came from poor or immigrant families. Factory and mine owners favored child labor because it was cheap, compliant, and expendable.
⚖️ Early Reforms and Legal Battles
The reform movement gained traction in the early 1900s thanks to activists, labor unions, and journalists. The National Child Labor Committee, founded in 1904, worked with photographers like Lewis Hine to expose the brutality of child labor to the American public.
Attempts to legislate federally met fierce resistance. The Keating-Owen Act (1916) was struck down by the Supreme Court in Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918), and a second effort was defeated in 1923. It wasn’t until the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 that the federal government established real guardrails:
- Prohibited employment under 16 in manufacturing/mining
- Banned hazardous work under 18
- Limited working hours for minors
- Authorized federal inspections
The FLSA marked the beginning of consistent national protections for working children.
🎓 Child Labor and Education: A Damaging Tradeoff
There’s a well-documented tradeoff between child labor and education:
- Working children attend school less, perform worse, and are more likely to drop out.
- Child labor perpetuates intergenerational poverty.
- Education access is key to breaking this cycle—but only if children aren’t too exhausted or endangered to learn.
Even today, agricultural labor laws allow children as young as 12 to work long hours, especially among migrant families. These children have some of the country’s highest school dropout rates.
📉 Modern Rollbacks: A Disturbing Trend
Since 2021, over a dozen U.S. states have proposed or passed laws rolling back child labor protections, often citing labor shortages or “career readiness”:
- Arkansas (2023): Removed permit and parental consent requirements for 14- and 15-year-olds.
- Iowa: Now allows minors in meatpacking and industrial work, with waivers.
- Kentucky: Loosened hour limits during the school year.
- Other states: Missouri, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and others are following suit.
Critics warn that these laws open the door to exploitation, especially in lower-income communities.
🧠 Why It Matters
The repeal of child labor protections isn’t just a policy dispute—it’s a moral referendum. If child labor laws are weakened, the most vulnerable children will bear the cost, just as they did a century ago.
The lesson from history is simple: when economic hardship or political expediency trumps child welfare, it’s children who are put at risk.
📣 Final Thoughts
Public memory is short. But the bodies of exhausted child laborers buried in unknown graves and the broken educational paths of working teens are silent witnesses to the past—and a warning for the future.
If we claim to value children’s futures, our policies must reflect that—not just in schools, but in the workplace.
🔗 Sources and Suggested Further Reading
- U.S. Department of Labor: Child Labor Provisions
- National Child Labor Committee Archives
- Keating-Owen Act Summary – OurDocuments.gov
The Origin of Juneteenth: America’s Second Independence Day
By John Turley
On June 16, 2025
In Commentary, History, Politics
The Juneteenth flag is red, white, and blue to reflect the American flag and includes a bursting star to symbolize freedom.
On June 19, 1865, an event that would forever change American history unfolded in Galveston, Texas. Union Major General Gordon Granger stood before a crowd and read General Order No. 3, announcing that “all slaves are free.” This proclamation marked the beginning of what we now celebrate as Juneteenth, America’s newest federal holiday and a day that celebrates the fulfillment of emancipation for all enslaved people in the United States.
Delayed Freedom
The story of Juneteenth begins with a troubling gap between law and reality. President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring freedom for enslaved people in states “…in rebellion against the United States”. However, enforcement depended on the advance of Union troops and In the Confederate state of Texas—remote and beyond Union control—the proclamation went unenforced for more than two years. Many slaveholders deliberately withheld information about emancipation, and the absence of Union forces meant that freedom remained out of reach for thousands.
Even after the Civil War effectively ended in April 1865 with Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, news of emancipation remained deliberately suppressed in Texas. Some enslavers continued to hold people in bondage through the spring planting season. It wasn’t until federal troops arrived in Galveston in sufficient force to ensure compliance that the promise of emancipation became reality for the last enslaved Americans.
Birth of a Celebration
The newly freed Texans didn’t wait for official recognition to begin celebrating their liberation. They called it Juneteenth, a combination of June and nineteenth and celebrations erupted spontaneously across Texas as communities gathered to commemorate their freedom with prayer, music, food, and fellowship. These early celebrations were deeply rooted in African American culture, featuring traditional foods and drinks, spirituals and folk songs, and the retelling of the freedom story to younger generations.
As African Americans moved from Texas to other parts of the country during the Great Migration, they carried Juneteenth traditions with them. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Juneteenth celebrations grew, often featuring parades, music, food, and family gatherings. The holiday’s popularity waned during the mid-20th century but experienced a resurgence during the Civil Rights Movement, as activists sought to reconnect with their heritage and the ongoing struggle for equality.
From Regional Tradition to National Recognition
For over a century, Juneteenth was primarily a regional and cultural celebration rather than an official holiday. Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980, other states followed gradually. The movement gained momentum in the 21st century as Americans increasingly recognized the need to acknowledge the full history of emancipation.
The nationwide racial justice protests of 2020 brought renewed attention to Juneteenth’s significance. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, acknowledging it as both a celebration of freedom and a reminder of America’s ongoing journey toward equality.
A Day of Reflection and Celebration
Today, Juneteenth serves multiple purposes in American life. It’s a day of celebration, honoring the resilience and culture of African Americans. It’s also a day of education, reminding all Americans about the complexities of emancipation and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Most importantly, it stands for hope—proof that progress, however delayed, is possible when people demand justice and equality. It honors the struggles and achievements of African Americans, reminding us of the enduring importance of freedom, perseverance, and hope in the face of adversity. As communities gather each year to celebrate Juneteenth, they continue the tradition of remembering the past while striving for a more inclusive and equitable future
Juneteenth stands as a testament to the truth that freedom delayed need not be freedom denied.
Juneteenth is not an official state holiday in West Virginia. In prior years, former governor Jim Justice issued a proclamation declaring Juneteenth a paid holiday for state employees. The current governor has made no such proclamation. Those who are planning the Juneteenth celebration in West Virginia have scheduled a Juneteenth parade for June 20th, West Virginia Day, which is an official state holiday.