By Sparking a movement through tragedy and climbing through flames, a revolution was born.
The tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire on March 25, 1911, serves as a critical reminder that the fight for workers’ safety and dignity is ongoing. Four Carroll College professors shared their insights from their respective expertise on its enduring significance.
The fire in New York City’s Asch Building claimed 146 lives, most of them immigrant women, ages 14 to 22.
A firefighter’s haunting report from the scene outlined the devastating aftermath.
“The total number of dead stood at 146. Fifty three jumped. Nineteen fell in the elevator shaft, and more than 20 off the broken fire escape, and at least 50 burned alive. All victims but 23 were women. The bodies laid there three to four high on the sidewalk outside the building. Even the toughest first responders had to switch crews every hour.”
The Triangle Shirtwaist fire highlighted the dangerous working conditions in sweatshops and catalyzed union activism across the country, prompting a movement that ultimately improved workplace safety and workers’ rights nationwide.
The panel discussion at Carroll emphasized the warnings against the dehumanization of workers today.
“Dehumanizing immigrants in today’s world needs to be reframed, said panelist Kalen Warden, a local sociologist.
Supporting this point, DJ Cash, a history professor at Carroll College, pointed out that the women who perished all represented the working-class immigrant population. Another panelist, Jeremy Johnson, a political science professor at Carroll College, highlighted how the tragedy became a catalyst for progressive reforms.
Jean Olis, a professor in the master of social work program at Carroll, discussed the mental health effects on the marginalized immigrant women, many of whom had endured repeated workplace abuses.
Experts note that the legacy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire still resonates, with immigrant workers continuing to face exploitation and unsafe conditions in low-wage industries. However, they’re optimistic that changes are coming.
“One reason to have hope today is that the pendulum does swing, and regulations do change over time to help those in need. The regulatory infrastructure is strong because it can evolve in various directions to address new challenges,” said Johnson.
