Shoeshiner

Shoeshiner or boot polisher is a profession in which a person polishes shoes with shoe polish. They are often known as shoeshine boys because the job is traditionally that of a male child. In the leather fetish communities, they are often called bootblacks. While the role is deprecated in much of Western civilisation there are children that earn an important wage for their family in many countries throughout the world. Some shoeshiners offer extra services, such as shoe repairs and general tailoring. Many well-known and high profile people started their working life as shoeshiners, including singers and presidents.

Contents

History

Shoe polish was not well known as a commercial product until the early 20th century. Throughout the late 19th century shoeshine boys plied their trade on the streets, particularly those in the cities of the United Kingdom.

Modern profession

The profession is common in many countries around the world, with the wage earned by the shoeshiner being a significant proportion of a family income, particularly when the father of the family has died or can no longer work.[1] In Afghanistan some children will work after school and can earn 100 Afghanis (around £1) each day.[2] Many street children use shoeshining as their only means of income.

Some cities require shoeshiners to acquire licences in order to work legally. In August 2007 shoeshiners in Mumbai, India were told that they could no longer work on the railway stations due to "financial irregularities". Every Shoeshine Association was asked to reapply for their licence, with many worried that they would lose out to a rival.[3]

Famous shoeshiners

Several high profile figures worked as a shoeshine boy at one point of their lives:

Portrayal in popular culture

Shoeshiners have featured in:

Film and television

Literature and publications

Music

References

  1. ^ HASCO. "Poverty forces Afghan children to quit school to work". Accessed 20 August 2007.
  2. ^ BBC News. "Photo journal: Kabul's street children". Accessed 20 August 2007.
  3. ^ Yahoo! News India. 6 August 2007. "Mumbai plans to 'polish' off its shoeshine boys". Accessed 20 August 2007.
  4. ^ Cartwright, Garth. BBC News. 2007. "Mahmoud Ahmed". Accessed 20 August 2007.
  5. ^ Rogers, Richard. WRDW. 25 December 2006. "James Brown: Legend, believer, Augusta son". Accessed 24 August 2007.
  6. ^ Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau. "James Brown Boulevard". Accessed 24 August 2007.
  7. ^ Smith, Rodney. BBC News. 13 January 2003. "Brazil braces for testing times". Accessed 20 August 2007.
  8. ^ BBC News. 8 April 2001. "Toledo: Shoeshine boy turned economist". Accessed 20 August 2007.
  9. ^ Cooper, Kenneth J. The Boston-Bay State Banner. 16 February 2006. "February 021606-03.htm Malcolm: The Boston years". Accessed 24 August 2007.
  10. ^ SparkNotes. "SparkNotes: The Autobiography of Malcolm X". Accessed 24 August 2007.
  11. ^ Allan May. "The Lufthansa Heist Revisited: The End of Tommy DeSimone". TruTV.com TruCrimeLibrary. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/gangsters_outlaws/gang/heist/12.html. Retrieved 12 December 2010. 

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