The First Street of America #7, El Paso, Texas / August 2007
Sixth and El Paso Street is the first street in “America,” after crossing over the Paso del Norte Bridge from Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico into El Paso, Texas. This is the crossroads. In addition to all the north-south traffic from Mexico to the United States this is also a stopping place for low cost buses that go from the border to Latino-intensive cities such as Los Angeles, Denver, San Antonio, Houston, well, to most cities in the U.S.
As people went through the “Lower East Side,” of New York after landing on Ellis Island, people land here, on Sixth and El Paso Streets, then head on, to their futures. The same: These are the tired, the poor, the not so poor, the aspiring, the working. This is a street of families, preachers, tourists, transients, old people, hot teenagers, people waiting, people barely pausing. This is a street of energy, commerce, motion, ambition and hope. This the first street of America.
As it was it is. The same. The crossroads.
Note: See THE PHOTO OF THE WEEK: June 15-22, 2007 for another photograph from the series: The First Street In America.
1 Comment
This is the Ellis Island of the Southern United States, I completely agree. There is definitely more than just a border, there is life in South El Paso. Your photo clearly captures border life in motion, something that makes this area unique.